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Sam Altman's knack for dodging bullets with a little help from bigshot friends

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Re: Sam Altman's knack for dodging bullets with a little help from bigshot friends

#4

Post by gwern »

Many points of interest here, including the answer to an earlier HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38384090 Why were the YC posts about Altman stepping down as YC president & becoming chairman so confusingly edited, and Altman seems to have either never been chairman or have quickly left? Well, because his post lacked candor about him becoming YC chairman:

"To smooth his exit, Altman proposed he move from president to chairman. He pre-emptively published a blog post on the firm’s website announcing the change. But the firm’s partnership had never agreed, and the announcement was later scrubbed from the post."

Re: Sam Altman's knack for dodging bullets with a little help from bigshot friends

#5

Post by anotherhue »

gwern wrote: post #4

Many points of interest here, including the answer to an earlier HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38384090 Why were the YC posts about Altman stepping down as YC president & becoming chairman so confusingly edited, and Altman seems to have either never been chairman or have quickly left? Well, because his post lacked candor about him becoming YC chairman: "To smooth his exit, Altman proposed he mov…

Gun jumping seems to be his style.

Re: Sam Altman's knack for dodging bullets with a little help from bigshot friends

#6

Post by gumballindie »

The more we learn about this person the more we understand how dubious he is. I am not entirely sure what the end game is for those protecting and promoting him. He’s clearly not steve jobs. Behaves and talks more like a cheap imitation.

Re: Sam Altman's knack for dodging bullets with a little help from bigshot friends

#7

Post by gkoberger »

You don't have to like Sam. But people who do big things, by definition, have to get there by pushing things along at a cadence that differs from most other people. I'm not necessarily saying it's a good thing, but I don't get why every article about Sam seems to be surprised that the guy who helped build something nobody thought was possible (AI this decade) got there by doing things in a fast, unique way.

If he followed the norms, he'd be a mid-level manager at FAANG company.

Re: Sam Altman's knack for dodging bullets with a little help from bigshot friends

#8

Post by richbell »

gkoberger wrote: post #7

You don't have to like Sam. But people who do big things, by definition, have to get there by pushing things along at a cadence that differs from most other people. I'm not necessarily saying it's a good thing, but I don't get why every article about Sam seems to be surprised that the guy who helped build something nobody thought was possible (AI this decade) got there by doing things in a fast, unique way. If he fol…

This comment reminds me of when Bird's CEO described their intentional subversion of municipal legislation as "innovating on the regulatory front."

A lot can be accomplished by skirting pesky rules and regulations. It isn't something commendable.

Re: Sam Altman's knack for dodging bullets with a little help from bigshot friends

#9

Post by vorticalbox »

anotherhue wrote: post #5
gwern wrote: post #4

Many points of interest here, including the answer to an earlier HN discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38384090 Why were the YC posts about Altman stepping down as YC president & becoming chairman so confusingly edited, and Altman seems to have either never been chairman or have quickly left? Well, because his post lacked candor about him becoming YC chairman: "To smooth his exit, Altman proposed he mov…

Gun jumping seems to be his style.

Not that I agree with this method but it's a pretty effective way to force something.
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