The Fin "What the f*** did you do?" Sam Altman on being fired & rehired for AI’s biggest job
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Jul 30, 2025 In this discussion, Paul Smith, Technology editor at The Australian Financial Review, interviews Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, known for leading innovations like ChatGPT. They delve into the dramatic events of Altman’s firing and quick rehiring, exploring the broader implications for the AI landscape. Altman shares insights on what would prompt him to pull the plug on AI projects and discusses the potential risk of AI to white-collar jobs. The conversation also touches on the ethical considerations of AI development and the necessity for distributed control in the tech industry.
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Altman's Sudden Firing and Return
- Sam Altman was unexpectedly fired in November 2023 and found himself at a diner, feeling the chaos around him.
- Just days later, he was reinstated after OpenAI employees threatened to resign en masse.
Altman's AI Vision Journey
- Altman saw AI as humanity's highest leverage goal from a young age and persisted despite early disillusionment.
- The breakthrough of AlexNet in 2012 reignited his passion and led to OpenAI's founding.
Altman Used ChatGPT for Support
- When Altman's premature son was in critical condition, he used ChatGPT as a therapist.
- He leaned on AI advice during stressful times, like many people do now.