Sam Altman is a visionary entrepreneur who has become one of the most influential figures in the modern technology landscape, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence. His journey began in St. Louis, Missouri, where he demonstrated an early aptitude for technology and entrepreneurship.

Altman's career took off when he dropped out of Stanford University to found Loopt, a location-based social networking mobile application that was ahead of its time. The company raised over $30 million in venture capital and was eventually acquired by Green Dot Corporation in 2012 for $43.4 million.

His most significant career move came when he joined Y Combinator, the prestigious startup accelerator. Altman quickly rose through the ranks, becoming president in 2014 at just 28 years old. During his tenure, he helped nurture thousands of startups and became known for his sharp business acumen and ability to identify promising technologies.

In 2019, Altman took the helm as CEO of OpenAI, originally a non-profit research laboratory co-founded by Elon Musk and others. Under his leadership, OpenAI transitioned to a "capped-profit" model and achieved groundbreaking success with the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. The AI chatbot quickly became the fastest-growing consumer application in history, reaching 100 million monthly active users within two months.

Altman's leadership style is characterized by ambitious vision and rapid execution. He famously believes that "the best way to predict the future is to invent it." His 2023 ouster and dramatic reinstatement as OpenAI CEO made international headlines, highlighting both the intense pressures and high stakes in the AI industry. The board initially removed him citing concerns about his communication transparency, but employee and investor backlash forced his return within five days.

Beyond AI, Altman has been deeply involved in clean energy initiatives, serving as chairman of nuclear fusion company Helion Energy and nuclear fission company Oklo. He has also expressed interest in longevity research and universal basic income experiments.

Known for his thoughtful but direct communication style, Altman maintains a blog where he shares insights on technology, startups, and society. He has become a prominent voice in discussions about AI safety and the future impact of artificial intelligence on humanity.