Sam Altman

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is the most visible and influential figure in the generative AI revolution. As the leader of the organization that created ChatGPT, DALL-E, and GPT-4, Altman catalyzed a global technological and societal inflection point. His unique background as former president of startup accelerator Y Combinator gives him deep ties to Silicon Valley's entrepreneurial core. Altman navigates a complex hybrid structure—a non-profit board governing a for-profit capped-profit entity—and has become the de facto global ambassador for AI, testifying before Congress and engaging with world leaders on AI safety and regulation.

His influence is disproportionate to OpenAI's size; the company's models set the industry standard, and its strategic partnership with Microsoft reshaped the tech landscape. Altman's vision of achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) responsibly defines the ambitions and anxieties of the entire field.