YC
Sam Altman: The Future of OpenAI, ChatGPT's Origins, and Building AI Hardware
@ Y Combinator
06/21/25
Takeaways
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
We're going for Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and while 99% of the world thought we were crazy, 1% resonated with our vision. In 10 or 20 years, unless something goes wrong, we could achieve unimaginable superintelligence. This is the best time in history to start a company.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
Deciding to start OpenAI was a pivotal moment for us. We almost didn't do it because AGI seemed like a crazy idea, and there were many other successful startups to pursue. It took a core group of people to look each other in the eye and commit to the mission, despite the doubts.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
The scaling laws we discovered were crucial to our success. Reflecting on the early days of AI, it seemed improbable that we would achieve what we have now, especially when the idea of chatbots felt like science fiction.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
When we decided to pursue AGI, we found many smart people who resonated with our mission. Concentrating talent around a unique mission is essential; if you're doing what everyone else is, it's hard to attract the best people and build a strong belief in your mission.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
OpenAI started small, with just eight people in a room. The journey to becoming a significant player in AI was gradual, and it's important to dream big while starting small. Nothing big starts off that way, and the path to success is often unclear at the beginning.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
The only advice I have for starting something big is to pick a market where there's potential for growth if your idea works. Beyond that, it's about taking one step at a time for a long time.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
We're in an interesting time where the capabilities of AI models are far ahead of the products people have built. There's a huge opportunity for new innovations, especially as the cost of AI continues to decrease dramatically.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
Memory is my favorite feature we've launched this year. It allows for a more personalized interaction, where the AI feels like it knows you and can proactively assist you in your daily life.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
The future of AI involves creating a persistent entity that knows you, connects to your data, and helps you proactively. This will transform how we interact with technology, making it feel like a constant companion in our lives.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
The integration of AI with real data is powerful. We're starting to see how AI can operate as an assistant in people's lives, integrating with various data sources and becoming a central part of daily tasks.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
The convergence of reasoning models and multimodal models will lead to a new kind of computer interface that can reason, generate real-time video, and provide personalized experiences.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
The future of AI will involve creating robots that can perform real work in the real world. We're getting closer to a time when humanoid robots will be able to automate various tasks effectively.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
AI and robotics present new possibilities for bringing manufacturing back to America. We need to explore innovative approaches to ensure we can build complex industries domestically.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
We need to focus on building a platform that enables others to create innovative solutions rather than just replicating existing products. There's a vast opportunity for new applications and integrations with AI.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
Defensibility in startups often comes from doing something unique that others aren't pursuing. The most enduring companies typically find ways to differentiate themselves from the competition.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
The best startups are often not doing what everyone else is doing, which allows them time to develop their product and technology before facing competition.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
It's tough to maintain conviction when others doubt your vision. Over time, it becomes easier, but in the beginning, you have to push through the skepticism and keep going despite the challenges.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
The future of human-computer interaction will involve interfaces that almost melt away, allowing users to trust AI to handle tasks without interruption. This would create a seamless experience where the technology works in the background.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
This is the best time ever in the history of technology to start a company.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
The way startups win is when they can iterate faster than big companies and do it at a much lower cost.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
I think the amount that one person or a small team can accomplish in the next decade will be remarkable due to advancements in AI.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
AI is somewhat mainstream now, but many people still think of it only as a chatbot and haven't grasped what's coming next.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
The challenges of being CEO of OpenAI include managing multiple big decisions simultaneously and dealing with competition from other major companies.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
I believe that the future will see unimaginable superintelligence in 10 to 20 years, unless something goes hugely wrong.
SA
Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
I believe that all long-term sustainable economic growth comes from discovering new science and having good governance to develop and share that science.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
If we could vastly increase the rate of new scientific discovery with AI, it would lead to incredible improvements in everyone's lives.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
The historical analogy for AI is the transistor, which transformed society and quality of life significantly over a short period.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
I wish someone had taught me the importance of conviction and resilience over a long period of time in entrepreneurship.
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Sam Altman
06/21/25
@ Y Combinator
The good parts of being an entrepreneur are incredibly rewarding, but the hard parts are much more challenging than anyone can express.