2 weeks ago
Sam Altman: AI gives students freedom he lacked at Goldman
Sam Altman is the boss of a company called OpenAI that makes smart computer programs.
When he was in college, many students wanted jobs at big banks.
Sam got into an internship at a big bank called Goldman Sachs, and it was considered a very special opportunity.
But Sam said no to the internship.
Instead, he worked on his own small company called Loopt.
Later, he helped start OpenAI and became very successful.
Sam thinks it is easier today for young people to start their own companies.
That is because smart computer programs, called artificial intelligence or AI, can help with coding and research.
So students don't need to wait for a big company to say yes before they make things.
Sam thinks young people can get very far just by making things and trying.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he once rejected a Goldman Sachs internship to focus on his college startup Loopt.
Altman described the prospect of working at Goldman Sachs today as "unbelievably terrible."
He argued AI tools for coding and research let students build companies with far fewer resources than before.
Altman said students today no longer need approval from established companies before pursuing their own ideas.
He made the remarks at the Internapalooza Conference in July, reflecting on his earlier career path.
- Who
- Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and former president of Y Combinator.
- What
- Altman said he rejected a Goldman Sachs internship to build his startup Loopt and argued that AI now gives students more freedom to pursue their own ideas.
- Where
- Internapalooza Conference (specific location not stated in the article).
- When
- His remarks were made at the Internapalooza Conference in July; the internship decision came during his sophomore year of college.
- Why
- He believes AI reduces the resources needed to build products, so students no longer need validation from established companies before starting.
Key facts
- Person
- Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI
- Key decision
- Rejected a Goldman Sachs internship to work on his startup Loopt
- Career path
- Joined Y Combinator's first startup batch, became its president, then co-founded OpenAI
- Event
- Internapalooza Conference
- Timing
- July; decision made during his sophomore year of college
- On Goldman Sachs today
- "Unbelievably terrible"
- Key quote
- "You can get a long way in life and career just by doing stuff."
Quotes
Sam Altman
CEO of OpenAI
““I think this is much more true now than ever before,” he said, referring to students using AI to build businesses.”
firstpost.com
““Unbelievably terrible,” he said, describing his view of a career at Goldman Sachs.”
firstpost.com








