Foundering Podcast: OpenAI Part 4: Heaven and Hell, Part 2
Release Date: June 20, 2024
Host: Ellen Hewitt
Produced by: Bloomberg Technology

Introduction and Context

In the fourth installment of the "OpenAI" series titled "Heaven and Hell, Part 2," Foundering delves deeper into the multifaceted impact of OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, on both the technology industry and wider societal structures. This episode explores the dichotomy between Altman's visionary aspirations for artificial intelligence and the personal challenges faced by his family, particularly his sister Annie Altman.

Sam Altman’s Vision for AI and Universal Basic Income

Sam Altman envisions artificial intelligence as a pivotal force capable of ending poverty and revolutionizing society. He believes that AI will lead to a technological and societal revolution, ultimately creating an abundance of resources. However, Altman acknowledges the disruptive potential of AI, including significant job displacement.

Sam Altman [01:03–01:16]:
"I think it'd be good to end poverty. Maybe you think we should stop a technology that can do that? I personally don't. The first time I looked at GPT2, I was like, oh my. This is like, this is crazy. This is, you know, there's nothing like there's nothing like this in the world. Like, it's crazy that this is possible."

Altman advocates for Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a solution to the economic upheaval AI may cause. He describes UBI as a system where cash is distributed to everyone regularly without conditions, aiming to reduce global inequality.

Sam Altman [03:20–03:34]:
"We're going to have an opportunity to push the reset button and think about the world we want. And I think universal basic income is one part of that. I think we do have an opportunity, as we rewrite the social contract, to think about how we can get towards a more equal world."

Annie Altman’s Personal Struggles

Contrasting Altman's grand ambitions is the poignant story of his sister, Annie Altman, who grapples with severe financial instability and homelessness. Annie's experiences highlight the gap between Altman's public declarations and his family's private realities.

Annie has faced chronic housing insecurity, leading her to engage in sex work as a last resort to survive. Her situation underscores the challenges that UBI aims to address but also brings into question the effectiveness and personal application of such policies within powerful families.

Annie Altman [08:43–09:09]:
"In my experience, it's not only hard to do anything when you are housing insecure. It is impossible. I haven't had a typical day in four years because of how much energy both physically like looking for places or doing things or looking for jobs and emotionally goes into housing insecurity. It has been the single biggest energy output of my past year."

Family Dynamics and Control

The episode delves into the complex family dynamics of the Altman household. Sam, the eldest sibling, has a dominating presence that has significantly influenced the lives of his brother Max, Jack, and sister Annie. While the brothers tightly bond through shared professional endeavors, Annie feels marginalized and unsupported.

Annie recounts her family's conditional support, highlighting Sam's attempts to control her life even when offering financial assistance.

Annie Altman [13:14–15:25]:
"I asked my family directly for money to pay rent and cover groceries... I forwarded me an email from Sam where he asked her to share her bank statements and to allow him and his mom to sit in on some of her therapy sessions in exchange for her rent and medical expenses being covered... it's not something I wanted to do."

Annie describes Sam’s financial support as laden with conditions that infringe upon her privacy and autonomy, contradicting his advocacy for UBI.

Contradictions Between Public Vision and Private Actions

Ankle's story reveals a stark contradiction between Sam Altman's public persona as a tech visionary promoting societal benefits and his personal interactions within his family. While advocating for UBI and the eradication of poverty on a global scale, Altman's actions towards Annie suggest a lack of genuine support when it comes to his own family.

When Annie sought financial help, Sam’s response was not only conditional but also intrusive, attempting to impose control over her personal affairs.

Annie Altman [17:24–18:16]:
"She felt like it was a throwback to Sam's attempts to get her on Zoloft and to peer into her bank statements... It didn't feel like a genuine offer to help but another attempt to control her."

Moreover, before the public revelation of Annie’s struggles, Sam maintained a facade of success and leadership, further isolating Annie and rendering her plight virtually invisible to the public eye.

Implications and Conclusion

The episode concludes by juxtaposing Sam Altman’s lofty goals for AI and societal transformation with the tangible, personal failure to support his own sister. Annie’s story serves as a microcosm of the broader societal issues UBI aims to address, while simultaneously questioning the sincerity and applicability of such solutions when they are not practiced within influential circles.

The narrative sets the stage for the final episode, which promises to explore the repercussions of these revelations on OpenAI's governance and Sam Altman's leadership, ultimately questioning the trustworthiness of individuals who possess significant power yet fail to uphold their advocated principles in personal matters.

Katie Greifeld [23:07–24:55]:
"When Sam is going around talking about our AI future, he acknowledges that AI could take our jobs and upend society and money as we know it. And he says he'll come up with a solution for us Universal basic income. But when he's faced with the messy reality of his own sister, suddenly it's not so simple... In public, he is literally saying that that there shouldn't be poverty. Money will be given away to everyone. In private. When Annie asked for help, he didn't come through for her in the way she needed."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sam Altman on UBI and AI's Impact:

  • [03:20] "I think universal basic income is one part of that. I think we do have an opportunity, as we rewrite the social contract, to think about how we can get towards a more equal world."

• Annie Altman on Housing Insecurity:

  • [08:43] "I haven't had a typical day in four years because of how much energy... goes into housing insecurity."

• Annie on Sam’s Conditional Support:

  • [17:24] "It didn't feel like a genuine offer to help but another attempt to control her."

Conclusion

"OpenAI Part 4: Heaven and Hell, Part 2" offers a compelling exploration of the complexities and contradictions inherent in technological leadership and personal responsibility. Through the lens of Sam Altman's public ambitions and his sister Annie’s personal tribulations, the episode raises critical questions about the feasibility of proposed societal solutions when not uniformly applied, especially within influential families driving these changes.

For listeners new to the series, this episode provides an in-depth look at the human costs behind technological advancements and the importance of aligning personal actions with public declarations to truly effect meaningful societal transformation.

Credits:
Foundering is hosted by Ellen Hewitt, with executive production by Sean Wen. Production assistance was provided by Jessica Nix and Antonia Mufarec. Story editing was done by Mark Millian, Ann Vandermay, Seth Vigerman, Tom Giles, and Molly Schutz.