
29 segments available
A fireside with Sam Altman on June 16, 2025 at AI Startup School in San Francisco. Sam Altman grew up obsessed with technology, broke into the Stanford mainframe as a kid, and dropped out to start his first company before turning 20. In this conversation, he traces the path from early startup struggles to building OpenAI—sharing what he’s learned about ambition, the weight of responsibility, and how to keep building when the whole world is watching. He opens up about the hardest moments of his career, the limits of personal productivity, and why, in the end, it's all still about finding people you like working with and doing something that matters. Apply to Y Combinator: https://ycombinator.com/apply Work at a startup: https://workatastartup.com Chapters: 00:00 – We’re going for AGI 01:25 – Founding OpenAI Against the Odds 05:00 – GPT-4o & the Future of Reasoning Models 07:00 – ChatGPT Memory & the ‘Her’ Vision 10:00 – GPT-5 & the Vision of a Multimodal Supermodel 11:00 – Robots at Scale 15:00 – Don’t Build ChatGPT — Build What’s Missing 17:00 – Elon’s Harsh Email & Building Conviction 26:00 – One Person’s Leverage in the Next Decade 32:00 – AI for Science: Sam’s Personal Bet
Sam Altman discusses the ambitious goal of achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and reflects on the skepticism surrounding this vision. He emphasizes the importance of taking bold steps despite the odds and shares pivotal moments that led to the founding of OpenAI, highlighting the significance of having a core team committed to the mission.
"We said, "Okay, we're going to go for AGI." 99% of the world thought we were crazy. 1% of the world they really resonated with. You know, in 10 or 20 years, unless something goes hugely wrong, we'll h..."
In this segment, Sam Altman recounts the early challenges faced by OpenAI, including the uncertainty of its direction and the initial lack of revenue. He reflects on the atmosphere of experimentation and the pivotal decisions that shaped the organization's future, illustrating how ambitious projects often start small and uncertain.
"and I think this is the the story of like many ambitious things where they seem so difficult and there's such good reasons not to do them that really takes a core of people that like sit in a room, lo..."
Sam Altman explains how OpenAI attracted some of the smartest minds in the field by presenting an exciting and important mission. He discusses the challenges of concentrating talent in a competitive landscape and how being unique in the market can create a strong belief in the mission, which is crucial for startup success.
"chatbt was like completely in the realm of science fiction. I mean, one of the things that really jumped out at me was uh you sort of, you know, rallied this idea that you should be working on AGI and..."
Altman shares insights on the growth trajectory of startups, emphasizing that significant ventures often begin with small teams and unclear paths. He highlights the importance of dreaming big while acknowledging that the journey involves taking incremental steps and learning from each phase of development.
"there. Okay. So, some people in this room might be thinking like, should I try to start an OpenAI scale thing off the bat? Uh you know, you you also worked on Loop your first time around. You know, we..."
In this segment, Sam Altman discusses the current landscape of AI product development, noting the gap between model capabilities and actual product offerings. He anticipates a surge in innovation as costs decrease and new open-source models emerge, encouraging entrepreneurs to seize this unique opportunity to build impactful AI solutions.
"a long time. How people use chatd has changed a lot. How people use your API has changed a lot. Uh, what surprises you the most with the latest models like 03 and what emergent behaviors or use cases ..."
Sam Altman elaborates on the significance of memory in AI, describing how it enhances user interaction by creating a more personalized experience. He envisions a future where AI acts as a constant companion, proactively assisting users by integrating seamlessly into their daily lives and routines.
"sort of new square on a periodic table that no one has built with yet. So only in the last month I think have we really started to see startups that are saying okay like reasoning models are different..."
Altman discusses the potential for AI to serve as an operating system for users' lives, integrating with various data sources and devices. He emphasizes the importance of local models and cloud infrastructure in achieving this vision, highlighting the ongoing evolution of AI capabilities and user interactions.
"companion. I guess we're starting to see um the power of LMS with integrations into your real data. Uh, you know, I've heard rumors that MCP is coming to OpenAI. I think today. Yeah. Oh, today. I thin..."
In this segment, Sam Altman explores the evolution of reasoning models alongside multimodal models, discussing the implications of their convergence. He hints at the future vision for GPT-5 and beyond, emphasizing the transformative potential of these advancements in AI technology.
"to you how hard it is to get compute? I mean, we've gotten really good at it, but it is we we went from like a no a zero like no chatbt.com didn't exist two and a half years ago to like the fifth bigg..."
Altman outlines the vision for GPT-5 and beyond, discussing the convergence of reasoning and multimodal models. He imagines a future where AI can generate real-time video and code, creating a new kind of interactive computer interface that combines deep reasoning with advanced multimedia capabilities.
"you know, there's like a lot of people that want to help. Well, it's incredible incredible work that you guys have been doing. Um, we're seeing reasoning models like 03 and 04 mini uh evolve in parall..."
Sam Altman shares his excitement about the future of humanoid robots and their potential to perform real-world tasks. He discusses the challenges of mechanical engineering and AI cognition, suggesting that the integration of these technologies is within reach, paving the way for robots to automate various industries.
"seems like that might be a hop step over to the uh embodied aspect. You know, that's having vision, having speech, and having reasoning is a hop step to, you know, yeah, basically the robot we want. o..."
In this segment, Altman addresses the need for America to enhance its manufacturing capabilities. He argues that AI and robotics could provide new opportunities to bring complex industries back to the U.S., emphasizing the importance of innovative policies to achieve this goal.
"will start to do super useful stuff making a billion robots is still going to take a while but I don't know I'm interested in the question of how many robots do you need to fully automate the supply c..."
Altman discusses the challenges startups face in creating defensible business models in the AI space. He advises entrepreneurs to focus on unique ideas rather than replicating existing products, highlighting the importance of innovation and differentiation in a competitive market.
"um what does defensibility look like here? You know, one of the classic questions is, you know, how do I uh start a startup that doesn't get run over by Open AI? That's sort of the number one question..."
Sam Altman reflects on the significance of contrarian thinking in entrepreneurship. He shares personal experiences of facing skepticism and criticism while building OpenAI, emphasizing the importance of conviction and resilience in pursuing innovative ideas against the odds.
"You could imagine that we could do like a signin with OpenAI and people could bring their, you know, personalized model and easily connect it to a new startup and that would probably help in a bunch o..."
In this segment, Altman introduces the concept of AI agents as a pivotal development in artificial general intelligence (AGI). He discusses the potential of AI agents to revolutionize interactions and tasks, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of AI technology.
"took us a long time to figure out how to answer the defensibility question for CHBT. Um, we had built this thing and for a long time the only defensibility was like we had the only product out in the ..."
In this segment, Altman discusses the evolution of AI agents and their potential to transform workflows. He compares the capabilities of AI tools to those of a junior employee, capable of executing tasks and returning with proposals. Altman envisions a future where AI significantly enhances productivity by handling computer-based work efficiently.
"going to happen to all of you and you just like get knocked down and get back up and brush yourself off and try to keep going. Let's talk uh AI agents. you know, that's uh sort of level three AGI. Uh ..."
Altman explores the future of human-computer interaction, envisioning interfaces that seamlessly integrate into our lives. He critiques current voice interfaces and imagines a world where users can communicate their needs without interruption, allowing AI to manage tasks autonomously. This segment highlights the potential for a more intuitive and less stressful interaction with technology.
"How do you see the future of human computer interaction and interfaces and what are sort of the limitations of those interfaces that you know motivated you? You know, one of the things that I think sc..."
Sam Altman discusses the historical revolutions in computer interfaces and the potential for a new paradigm driven by AI. He emphasizes the significance of design in creating user-friendly experiences and expresses optimism about the future of technology under the guidance of renowned designer Jony Ive. This segment underscores the transformative potential of AI in reshaping how we interact with computers.
"like surfacing information to me, making judgment calls about when not to, acting on my behalf when it should. Uh, and I'm I'm quite excited for that. Uh, I'm not going to like tell you what the new d..."
Altman addresses the opportunities and challenges for startups in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. He encourages entrepreneurs to embrace the changes brought by AI, highlighting that while established companies may struggle to adapt, startups can thrive by iterating quickly and efficiently. This segment provides insights into the competitive advantages that agile startups can leverage in the AI era.
"to happen. Yeah. Look here here there are two ways you can look at this. Uh first of all, assume you all are like starting startups or have started startups, think about starting startups. This is the..."
In this segment, Altman reflects on the transformative power of technology to enhance individual capabilities. He discusses how advancements in AI can reduce coordination costs and enable small teams to achieve remarkable outcomes. Altman emphasizes the potential for increased satisfaction and quality of work, suggesting that the next decade will see significant changes in how we create value as a society.
"incredible shape. maybe you can invite me sometime to do a talk about like what the areas of defensibility that you can build over time are because I think that is the inherent question. people are li..."
In this segment, Altman highlights the importance of the foundational work done by countless individuals throughout history that has paved the way for modern innovations. He acknowledges the unique gathering of forward-thinking individuals at the event and the responsibility they hold in shaping the future of technology, particularly in AI.
"I think we won't just see like a little bit more stuff get built, but because of these kind of coordination costs across people, we'll see like a real stuff change. So I think the the amount that one ..."
Altman shares his excitement about being at the forefront of AI development and the privilege of working with innovative minds. He addresses the current perception of AI, particularly ChatGPT, and the need for broader understanding and engagement with the technology as it evolves beyond its initial applications.
"time, you know, we're in some ways, uh, this is the leading cutting edge of all of society because there are seven and a half billion people who probably h, you know, have not even tried this stuff ye..."
Sam Altman offers insights into the hiring process for startups, emphasizing the importance of selecting driven, smart individuals who can work collaboratively. He shares his perspective on prioritizing practical accomplishments over traditional credentials, advocating for a focus on problem-solving abilities and alignment with the company's vision.
"future and uh you know go build stuff for everybody else coming along. So, you're sort of one of the best people in the world at um bringing together the smartest people. Um what are some of the harde..."
In this candid discussion, Altman reflects on the challenges of being the CEO of OpenAI, describing the multitude of responsibilities and decisions he faces. He shares his thoughts on the complexities of leadership in a rapidly evolving tech landscape and the importance of adaptability in navigating these challenges.
"well. I mean by uh strong track record do you mean the person who's like you know sort of been an administrator and had like the the you know top name at the top institution for 20 years or do you mea..."
Altman expresses his excitement about the potential of AI to revolutionize scientific discovery in the coming decades. He argues that advancements in AI could lead to significant improvements in global economic growth and quality of life, emphasizing the need for effective governance and institutions to harness this potential.
"them. I see PB back there. He has this quote, I hope it's his quote because I've attributed to him a bunch of times of hire for slope, not y intercept. And I think that's just like unbelievably great ..."
In this segment, Altman discusses his long-standing interest in energy and AI, revealing how he initially viewed them as separate domains. He reflects on the realization that energy will be a critical factor in the future development of AI, highlighting the correlation between energy access and quality of life throughout history.
"impressed by is uh you know you were you you know personally recruited Helon to come do Y Combinator and uh they're doing incredible things over on the Fusion side. Um, was that something that you wer..."
Altman contrasts the optimistic mindset of technologists with the pessimism found in some circles. He reflects on the challenges of empathizing with those who focus on negative outcomes and expresses confidence in the potential of technology to create abundance. This segment captures Altman's belief in the transformative power of AI and energy in shaping a hopeful future.
"uh interdependent. It was more you had twin interest, but you've literally woven them together. I had like the one interest of like radical abundance and just like what what what were the kind of tech..."
Sam Altman discusses the rapid advancements in AI, particularly since the launch of GPT-3. He draws parallels between AI's evolution and historical technological breakthroughs like the transistor. Altman emphasizes the need for infrastructure to support AI's growth and encourages innovators to identify and meet the needs of society with new technologies.
"but I've always kind of wanted to go to one. This is the anti-dgrowth. This is the anti-drowth conference. Totally. But I would like love to be like sitting, you know, in the dark in the cold with no ..."
Reflecting on his early experiences with Y Combinator, Altman shares valuable lessons about the importance of conviction and resilience in entrepreneurship. He highlights the challenges of maintaining motivation through failures and stresses the significance of trusting one's instincts. This segment offers insights into the mindset required for long-term success in the startup world.
"You know does government play a role in this? Almost just about five years ago like pretty much this week we put GPT3 into an API and people started playing with it and it was barely usable. It was qu..."
In this concluding segment, Altman draws parallels between parenthood and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the highs and lows of both experiences. He shares that while the rewards of entrepreneurship can be extraordinary, the challenges are often more difficult than anticipated. Altman encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to persist through hardships, reinforcing the idea that resilience is key to success.
"need um with this new magic. So, let's uh flash back to 2005. Uh the very first batch of Y Combinator. Um, how did you hear about Paul Graham? You were reading his essays. I was reading his essays. So..."