Can Sam Altman Be Trusted? The New Yorker Examines His Influence

The New Yorker published a long feature on April 6 questioning whether Sam Altman can be trusted. The piece is based on nearly 100 interviews with employees, former colleagues, investors, and competitors. It details Altman’s abrupt removal and reinstatement as OpenAI CEO within about five days after staff pushed back, and reports claims that some former colleagues see patterns of deception in his behavior while Altman calls his actions competitive business adaptation. The report raises questions about transparency and accountability for powerful figures in the fast-moving AI industry.