Sam Altman says startups have never had a better moment for ambitious AI bets
Y Combinator · youtube · 2026-07-28
Sam Altman says startups have never had a better moment
In a YC Startup School 2026 conversation with Garry Tan, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reflects on:
- how YC’s early days shaped his view of startups
- why technology shifts create openings for ambitious founders
- building OpenAI before AGI was widely believed in
- finding people who share conviction and ignoring skeptics
- the AI safety incident that changed the stakes
- concerns about AI concentrating power
- how quickly models may improve from here
The interview frames startups as the best vehicle for tackling bigger problems during a major technology transition, and Altman argues that the ceiling for what a startup can take on is higher than ever.
Related event: Sam Altman tells YC AI startups the window is still wide open(12 posts)→
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