Sam Altman on High-Risk Bets: From AGI in 2015 to Hiring Non-Consensus Researchers
a16z · x · 2026-08-25
Sam Altman discusses the skepticism OpenAI faced when targeting AGI in 2015 and his philosophy on high-risk, high-reward bets. He argues that high risk is acceptable if the potential payoff is massive. Regarding talent, Altman looks for non-consensus thinkers with fresh approaches and the conviction to stand by unpopular ideas, rather than founders with marginal variations on existing themes.
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