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Paul Graham claims Sam Altman wasn't fired from Y Combinator | TechCrunch

May 30, 2024 - techcrunch.com
Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator, has refuted claims that Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, was forced to resign as president of Y Combinator in 2019 due to potential conflicts of interest. Graham stated that Altman was asked to choose between his roles at OpenAI and Y Combinator when OpenAI announced it would establish a for-profit subsidiary. This contradicts previous reports that Altman was forced to resign after allegedly prioritizing personal projects over his duties at Y Combinator.

The timing of Graham's posts coincides with an op-ed by OpenAI board members Bret Taylor and Larry Summers, which defends Altman against accusations that he can't withstand the pressure of profit incentives. This follows reports that Altman is considering turning OpenAI into a for-profit corporation as investors, particularly Microsoft, push for prioritization of commercial projects.

Key takeaways:

  • Paul Graham, co-founder of Y Combinator, denies claims that Sam Altman was forced to resign as president of Y Combinator due to potential conflicts of interest.
  • Altman, who co-founded OpenAI and was named CEO of its for-profit subsidiary, was reportedly told to choose between his roles at OpenAI and Y Combinator.
  • Contrary to Graham's account, some reports suggest that Altman was forced to resign from Y Combinator due to allegations of prioritizing personal projects over his duties as president.
  • Altman is reportedly considering turning OpenAI into a for-profit corporation as investors, particularly Microsoft, push for prioritization of commercial projects.
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