Sam Altman - Audio Biography

Sam Altman is an American entrepreneur, investor, and programmer who has made significant contributions to the technology industry. He is best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Y Combinator, a prominent startup accelerator that has helped launch numerous successful companies, including Airbnb, Dropbox, and Reddit. Altman is also the founder of several other notable companies, including Loopt, Hydrazine Capital, and OpenAI. Sam Altman was born on April 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in a Jewish family and attended John Burroughs School, a private school in St. Louis, Missouri. Altman showed an early interest in computers and programming, and he taught himself how to code at a young age. In 2005, Altman entered Stanford University to study computer science, but he dropped out after one year to pursue his entrepreneurial ambitions. He moved to Silicon Valley and began working on a variety of startup projects. In 2009, Altman co-founded Y Combinator with Jessica Livingston and Paul Graham. Y Combinator is a startup accelerator that provides funding, mentorship, and other resources to early-stage startups. The program has been incredibly successful, and it has helped launch many of the most successful tech companies of the past decade. Altman served as Y Combinator's president from 2014 to 2019. During his tenure, he oversaw the launch of over 1,500 startups, and he helped to shape the company's culture and philosophy. He is widely credited with playing a key role in Y Combinator's success. In addition to his work at Y Combinator, Altman has also founded several other notable companies. In 2005, he co-founded Loopt, a social networking app that allowed users to share their location with friends. Loopt was acquired by Yahoo in 2012 for $43 million. In 2012, Altman co-founded Hydrazine Capital, an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in tech startups. Hydrazine Capital has made successful investments in companies such as Coinbase, Palantir Technologies, and Stripe. In 2015, Altman co-founded OpenAI, a non-profit research company with the stated goal of ensuring that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. OpenAI has made significant progress in developing new AI technologies, and it has attracted funding from some of the most prominent people in the tech industry, including Elon Musk, Reid Hoffman, and Peter Thiel. Altman has been involved in several controversies over the years. In 2016, he was criticized for his decision to invite Donald Trump to speak at Y Combinator's Demo Day. Altman later defended his decision, saying that it was important for startups to engage with a wide range of people, even those with whom they disagree. In 2018, Altman was criticized for his involvement in Worldcoin, a cryptocurrency project that aimed to create a universal basic income. The project was ultimately abandoned after it was met with widespread criticism. Latest News In 2023, Altman stepped down as CEO of OpenAI, but he remains on the company's board of directors. He is also a managing partner at Hydrazine Capital, and he is an active angel investor. Altman is a frequent speaker at conferences and events, and he is a regular contributor to publications such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Sam Altman is a visionary entrepreneur and investor who has made significant contributions to the technology industry. He is a respected figure in Silicon Valley, and he is widely admired for his intelligence, work ethic, and commitment to innovation. As Altman continues to pursue new projects, it is clear that he will remain a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. Thanks for Listening To Quiet Please. Remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Sam Altman is an American entrepreneur,investor, and programmer who has made significant
contributions to the technology industry. Heis best known as the co founder and
former CEO of y Combinator, aprominent start up accelerator that has helped launch
numerous successful companies including Airbnb, Dropbox, and Reddit. Altman is also the

(00:20):
founder of several other notable companies,including Looped, Hydrazine Capital, and open
Ai. Sam Altman was born onApril twenty second, nineteen eighty five,
in Chicago, Illinois. He grewup in a Jewish family and attended John
Burrough's School, a private school inSaint Louis, Missouri. Altman showed an
early interest in computers in programming,and he taught himself how to code at

(00:44):
a young age. In two thousandand five, Altman entered Stanford University to
study computer science, but he droppedout after one year to pursue his entrepreneurial
ambitions. He moved to Silicon Valleyand began working on a variety of start
up projects. In two thousand andnine, Altman co founded y Combinator with
Jessica Livingston and Paul Graham. YCombinator is a startup accelerator that provides funding,

(01:07):
mentorship, and other resources to earlystage startups. The program has been
incredibly successful, and it has helpedlaunch many of the most successful tech companies
of the past decade. Altman servedas y Combinator's president from twenty fourteen to
twenty nineteen. During his tenure,he oversaw the launch of over one thousand,
five hundred startups, and he helpedto shape the company's culture and philosophy.

(01:32):
He's widely credited with playing a keyrole in y Combinator's success. In
addition to his work at y Combinator, Altman has also founded several other notable
companies. In two thousand and five, he co founded Looped, a social
networking app that allowed users to sharetheir location with friends. Looped was acquired
by Yahoo in twenty twelve for fortythree million dollars. In twenty twelve,

(01:56):
Altman co founded Hydrozene Capital, anearly stage venture capital firm that invests in
tech startups. Hydrozene Capital has madesuccessful investments in companies such as Coinbase,
Palanteer Technologies, and Stripe. Intwenty fifteen, Altman co founded open Ai,
a nonprofit research company with the statedgoal of ensuring that artificial general intelligence
benefits all of humanity. OpenAI hasmade significant progress in developing new AI technologies,

(02:23):
and it has attracted funding from someof the most prominent people in the
tech industry, including Elon Musk,Reied Hoffman, and Peter Thiel. Altman
has been involved in several controversies overthe years. In twenty sixteen, he
was criticized for his decision to inviteDonald Trump to speak at y Combinator's demo
Day. Altman later defended his decision, saying that it was important for startups

(02:45):
to engage with a wide range ofpeople, even those with whom they disagree.
In twenty eighteen, Altman was criticizedfor his involvement in world Coin,
a cryptocurrency project that aimed to createa universal basic income. The project was
ultimately abandoned at after it was metwith widespread criticism Latest News. In twenty

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twenty three, Altman stepped down asCEO of open Ai, but he remains
on the company's board of directors.He's also a managing partner at Hydrazine Capital,
and he is an active angel investor. Altman is a frequent speaker at
conferences and events, and he isa regular contributor to publications such as The
New York Times and The Wall StreetJournal. Sam Altman is a visionary entrepreneur

(03:28):
and investor who has made significant contributionsto the technology industry. He is a
respected figure in Silicon Valley, andhe is widely admired for his intelligence,
work, ethic, and commitment toinnovation. As Altman continues to pursue new
projects, it is clear that hewill remain a force to be reckoned with
in the years to come. Thanksfor listening to Quiet. Please remember to

(03:51):
like and share wherever you get yourpodcasts.