OpenAI’s Sam Altman says Paul Graham’s Y Combinator taught him how to govern, not rule: ‘We won’t get every decision right’

Sam Altman, a prominent figure in artificial intelligence, credits an early lesson from Silicon Valley for shaping his understanding of governing rather than ruling. As the former president of Y Combinator, a startup accelerator that has backed numerous companies, Altman learned that he couldn't simply dictate what to do for the startups he invested in.

Instead, he had to learn how to manage different stakeholders, including governments, competitors, investors, and the AI ecosystem. This experience has been invaluable for Altman as he now navigates the complex pressures faced by OpenAI. He acknowledges that OpenAI will not always make the right decisions, but he aims to make choices that benefit the entire ecosystem.

Altman also emphasizes the importance of being reliable partners to the world, taking into account various interests and equities. He believes that leading AI companies may eventually need to coordinate on safety standards as the technology advances.