AI Billionaire Sam Altman Considered White House Bid, Ex Claims
“I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna run. I think I can win,” Altman’s ex-boyfriend claims the billionaire told him.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Sam Altman considered running for president of the United States, according to claims from his ex-boyfriend to be published in a new book. After the OpenAI boss panned a long-considered bid to become Governor of California, he grew more and more interested in running the White House, despite pushback from fellow business minds in the private sector, according to Vanity Fair. Author Keach Hagey has now revealed in her forthcoming book, The Optimist, that Altman turned his ambition to the presidency in 2016, as Hillary Clinton battled with Donald Trump. “‘If she doesn’t get it, and Trump does, I can’t have that again. I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna run. I think I can win,’” his high school boyfriend Nathan Watters recalled him saying over lunch in San Francisco. “I’m sure he did think he could win.” Vanity Fair reported that Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, disputed even saying this—and denies ever wanting to run for president. The Daily Beast has reached out to Altman for comment.
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