Under OpenAI’s leadership, the focus remains on rapid technological progress balanced with safety, ethics, and transparency to align innovation with public responsibility.

Altman suggests his major professional ambitions are largely complete, with any future role depending on how work evolves in a world beyond artificial general intelligence.

Fatherhood has reshaped his priorities and time management, making family time central and influencing when his son might first engage with AI technology.

Altman envisions an unconventional succession where an AI system could eventually lead OpenAI, arguing that if AI can run companies, it should be allowed to run OpenAI as well.

He would welcome an AI-led leadership transition at OpenAI if AI systems become capable enough to manage a company.

Cooperation with former President Donald Trump on AI policy has been generally smooth, though policy goals differ, with Trump pursuing nationalist aims that may not fully align with OpenAI’s broader mission for humanity.

In a Forbes interview, Altman notes tensions with Elon Musk, criticizing Musk’s attacks on OpenAI while acknowledging Musk’s own safety concerns at play.

He rejects the idea that AI will only worsen energy use and social disruption, arguing for greater energy efficiency, more clean energy investment, and proactive, positive AI applications.

Globally, Altman shapes AI policy by engaging with world leaders, regulators, and academics to discuss workforce transformation, data privacy, and national security.

Reflecting on legacy, Altman downplays fame-driven fears, focusing on creating tools and innovations that could outlive him and benefit others.

A core belief emphasized is that scaling drives innovation, even as he admits difficulty in explaining why scaling works.

Fame brings challenges, including unsolicited startup pitches in public spaces and concerns about private life being exposed, especially diary entries in legal contexts.