Sam Altman

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Sam Altman, born April 22, 1985, is an American entrepreneur, investor, and programmer. He is widely recognized for his leadership in the field of technology and venture capital. Altman grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and developed a keen interest in programming from an early age. He attended Stanford University, where he studied computer science but left the program to pursue his entrepreneurial ventures.

In 2005, Altman co-founded the location-based social networking startup, Loopt, which enabled users to share their location with friends. The company was backed by Y Combinator, one of the most prestigious startup accelerators in the world. Loopt was later acquired by Green Dot Corporation for $43.4 million in 2012. After the sale of Loopt, Altman shifted his focus to investing and startup incubation.

In 2014, Altman was named president of Y Combinator, succeeding co-founder Paul Graham. Under his leadership, Y Combinator expanded significantly, launching programs like Y Combinator Continuity, a growth-stage investment fund, and YC Research, a nonprofit dedicated to long-term research. During his tenure, Altman oversaw the acceleration of numerous successful companies, including Airbnb, Dropbox, and Reddit.

In 2019, Altman transitioned to become the CEO of OpenAI, a research organization focused on developing artificial general intelligence. OpenAI was co-founded by Altman, Elon Musk, and other prominent figures in the tech industry. The organization aims to ensure that AI benefits all of humanity. Altman has been a vocal advocate for the ethical development of AI and has pushed for regulatory measures to oversee its growth and application.

Altman is also known for his personal investments in a range of tech startups and companies. His portfolio includes investments in Stripe, Pinterest, and Asana, among others. In addition to his work in technology, Altman has expressed an interest in addressing global challenges, including energy sustainability and life extension. He is a supporter of nuclear energy development and has invested in the nuclear fusion startup Helion Energy.