New Yorker Investigates the Altman Controversy
RobbWiller · x · 2026-07-12
The New Yorker published a major investigation into Sam Altman based on over 100 interviews, previously unreleased “Ilya memos,” and Dario Amodei's private notes. The article attempts to reconstruct the events leading to Altman's firing and rapid reinstatement.
Key points include:
- Ilya compiled about 70 pages of Slack messages, HR files, and photos taken with his personal phone, sending them to the board via disappearing messages.
- The core conclusion of the first memo was that Sam exhibited a persistent pattern of "lying."
- Dario kept over 200 pages of private notes titled “My Experience with OpenAI” over the years, concluding that "the problem at OpenAI is Sam himself."
- The article also mentions Sam allegedly told Mira things regarding allies and power, but the post cuts off there.
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