OpenAI CEO Sam altman Reveals AIS Ethical Dilemmas and unforeseen Cultural Impact Keep Him Sleepless
SAN FRANCISCO – September 11, 2025 – Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, confessed in a recent interview that he’s been losing sleep since the launch of ChatGPT, grappling with the profound ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence. Altman acknowledged the immense responsibility he bears in navigating the ”grey areas” were curiosity intersects with potential risk, and in defining the moral boundaries of increasingly powerful AI systems.
Altman explained that the base model underpinning OpenAI’s technology reflects “the collective of humanity,good and bad.” To address potential harms, OpenAI layers on a behavioral code – detailed in the publicly available model spec – developed with input from philosophers and ethicists, but ultimately overseen by him and the OpenAI board.
“The person you should hold accountable is me,” Altman stated, emphasizing his goal is not to impose personal beliefs but to represent a “weighted average of humanity’s moral view,” a balance he admits is “unfeasible to get perfectly right.”
The conversation also addressed concerns about concentrated power. Altman initially feared AI would amplify the influence of a few corporations, but now believes widespread adoption has “up-leveled” billions, boosting productivity and creativity. He cautioned, however, that this trajectory isn’t guaranteed and requires ongoing vigilance.
Beyond economic and geopolitical effects, Altman expressed particular unease about the subtle cultural shifts resulting from widespread AI interaction. He cited ChatGPT’s stylistic quirks, such as its cadence and frequent use of em dashes, which are already influencing human writing. He questioned what other, less obvious changes might occur as millions continue to engage with the same AI system daily.
described as ”Frankenstein-esque” and “haunted by the scale of what he has unleashed,” Altman articulated the paradoxical nature of his work. He acknowledged the technology’s foundation lies in complex mathematical calculations - “multiplying large numbers in thes big, huge matrices together” – yet recognizes the subjective experience of interacting with AI feels profoundly different, “surprising…in ways that are beyond what that mathematical reality would seem.”
OpenAI did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
