Sam Altman Reflects On ‘Weird’ Feelings, Days Without Food After OpenAI Exit

As a researcher with a background in technology and artificial intelligence, I’ve been closely following Sam Altman’s journey at OpenAI over the past few years. The recent events surrounding his brief departure and swift reinstatement as CEO were particularly intriguing. In his interview on “The Logan Bartlett Show,” Altman provided some insight into this intense period, describing it as an “adrenaline-charged” experience filled with unexpected twists and turns.


In the past few years, Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, has gone through an remarkable journey. He brought ChatGPT into the world, gained significant influence in the artificial intelligence sector, interacted with global heads of state, and even had disagreements with Elon Musk. Furthermore, he now shares the title of billionaire with many other prominent figures.

Sam Altman Opens Up On Reinstatement At OpenAI

One notable incident was the brief removal of Sam Altman from OpenAI, which was then quickly reversed. He recently shared details about this experience on “The Logan Bartlett Show” podcast. Altman referred to those intense and chaotic four and a half days as an “insane, overloaded” period, during which he found himself in a highly energized state.

After bidding farewell to my role within a day, I found myself inundated with messages from heads of state across the globe. At first, this seemed routine and I responded casually. However, as time passed post my departure, I began to find it peculiar. In conversation with Logan Bartlett on his podcast, I described this experience as “just weird.”

Additionally, he found himself struggling with insufficient sleep and minimal food intake following his departure. Conversely, he managed to keep up an impressive level of vitality during the ordeal. Upon resuming his position as CEO at OpenAI, a pivotal moment occurred for him while dining at a diner en route to Napa on the eve of Thanksgiving. There, he requested and consumed four hearty dishes and two milkshakes, suddenly recognizing that he had gone without proper nourishment for days.

At the festive supper, Altman found great fulfillment. However, the weight of the situation hit him later when he received a message from a president expressing gratitude for resolving the matter. It was only then that Altman understood how extraordinary it was to have several global leaders contacting him during that time.

Altman Reflects On Getting Support From World Leaders

As an analyst, I found it surprising to acknowledge that it felt normal for me to receive texts from numerous world leaders during that particular situation. However, this experience served as a reminder of the incredible human capacity to adapt to even the most unusual circumstances. In reflection, I was struck by how underestimated our adaptability truly is.

As a researcher studying human adaptability, I’ve come across this intriguing observation from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. He remarked, “I’ve found that people can quickly adjust to anything, be it positive or negative, as the new normal.” This isn’t the first instance where I’ve witnessed such adaptability in response to extraordinary circumstances that Altman has encountered over the past few years. These experiences have only strengthened his conviction in humanity’s remarkable resilience.

Altman made an intriguing comment, “I believe this indicates something truly remarkable about humanity during this major shift we’re experiencing.” Moreover, his re-appointment as OpenAI’s CEO signifies an exciting new phase for both him and the AI sector. Recently, OpenAI announced a partnership with Reddit – a significant move in the industry.

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2024-05-17 12:22