Sam Altman Reflects On ‘Weird’ Feelings, Days Without Food After OpenAI Exit

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has experienced a series of extraordinary events in recent years, from the release of ChatGPT to becoming a key figure in the AI industry. During this time, he has engaged with world leaders. Moreover, he clashed with Elon Musk and joined the ranks of billionaires.

Sam Altman Opens Up On Reinstatement At OpenAI

One of the most dramatic episodes was Sam Altman‘s brief ousting from OpenAI, followed by a swift reinstatement. Furthermore, he recently discussed this topic on the tech podcast “The Logan Bartlett Show.” Altman described this period as an “insane, superjammed” four and a half days, during which he was in an “adrenaline-charged state.”

Within a day of his departure, he received 10 to 20 messages from presidents and prime ministers around the world. At the time, this felt “very normal,” and he responded without much thought. However, things several changed for him after the departure. “It was just, like, weird,” Altman recounted to podcast host Logan Bartlett.

Moreover, he recalled not sleeping much and barely eating after the exit. On the flip side, he maintained high energy levels throughout the ordeal. After rejoining OpenAI as the CEO, he experienced a moment of realization during a stop at a diner on the way to Napa the day before Thanksgiving. There, he ordered four substantial entrées and two milkshakes, realizing he hadn’t eaten in days.

This celebratory meal was “very satisfying” for Altman. The gravity of the situation struck him later when he received a text from a president expressing relief that everything had been resolved. It was then that Altman recognized how unusual it was to have multiple world leaders reaching out to him during this period.

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Altman Reflects On Getting Support From World Leaders

“The odd part was realizing that it should’ve been weird to have multiple world leaders texting me during this situation — but it wasn’t,” Altman said. The OpenAI CEO reflected on humans’ remarkable ability to adapt to any circumstance. “My takeaway is human adaptability to almost anything is just, like, much more remarkably strong than we realize,” he noted on the podcast.

In addition, the OpenAI CEO added, “And you can get used to anything as the new normal, good or bad, pretty fast.” This was not the first time Altman had learned this lesson. He has faced numerous extraordinary situations over the past couple of years, reinforcing his belief in humanity’s resilience.

Hence, Altman remarked, “I think it says something remarkable about humanity and good for us as we stare down at this, like, big transition.” Furthermore, his return to OpenAI as the CEO marks a significant chapter in his career and the AI industry at large. Since then, OpenAI initiated several partnerships with the latest one involving Reddit.

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