RAM Altman: Linux Script Emails Sam Altman Daily How Much Unused RAM in Your PC

Open-source developer Iain Kay has crafted an amusing BASH script named "Ram Altman" for Linux users, which keeps tabs on idling RAM and forwards the surplus amount to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The script, designed for Linux systems, calculates the percentage of unused RAM and sends it to Altman via email – or at least that's how it's intended to work.

However, the creator has kept the email server defaultly off to prevent the script from being used for automated mail-spoofing or DoS attacks. The script only emails Altman if the system has more than 10% of RAM available. If the criteria are met, it randomly picks from a collection of sarcastic email templates, including a line that reads: "Hoarding responsibly, A concerned RAM owner."

For sysadmins and Linux users wary of spamming external mail servers, the script includes a --dry-run flag and a local test suite. This feature allows users to preview the exact message generated without sending actual correspondence.

The project's FAQ page provides some humorous clarifications, such as the script not helping with the DRAM shortage, not working on macOS (as it relies on /proc/meminfo), and the 10% threshold being in place to prevent machine suffering. The script also doesn't use RAM itself, but rather temporarily holds it before returning it to the global pool.

Ultimately, Sam Altman had to backtrack on his earlier statements, claiming they were taken out of context and expressing his desire for everyone to have as much RAM as they need.