During a Y Combinator event, Sam Altman reflected on a key inflection point in the founding and success of OpenAI. Gary Tan, the current President of Y-Combinator, asked Altman about a seemingly small decision that had massive implications. Altman said, “Just deciding to do it was a big one. We got very close to not starting OpenAI. AGI sounded crazy. I had Gary's job then, and there was all this other great stuff to do that would work, all these great startups, and AGI was a pipe dream, and even if it was possible, DeepMind seemed impossibly far ahead.” 

In other words - change can be difficult, but when you already have a great career and are facing an insurmountable task, taking the leap can be even harder. Despite this decision, Altman ultimately made the leap and started the company billions of people around the world use. 

“We had this year over the course of 2015, where we were talking about starting it and was kind of coin flippy. This is the story of many ambitious things where they seem so difficult and there's such good reasons not to do them, it really takes a core of people that sit in a room, look each other in the eye and say, ‘All right, let's do this,’” Altman said. He continued, “Those are very important moments, and I think when in doubt, you should lean into them.”

Altman’s candid admission captures the uncertainty and ambition that defined the birth of OpenAI. At the time, the concept of AGI — machines capable of performing any intellectual task that a human can — was widely regarded as speculative, if not implausible. Leading AI research organizations like DeepMind appeared insurmountably ahead, and the risks of failure were significant. Altman, then president of Y Combinator, was surrounded by more conventional opportunities with clearer paths to success, yet he and his co-founders chose to pursue what many considered a “pipe dream.”

This decision is emblematic of Altman’s career and leadership style. From his early days as a Stanford dropout founding Loopt, a pioneering location-based social app, to his transformative tenure at Y Combinator, Altman has consistently demonstrated a willingness to challenge prevailing assumptions and embrace high-risk, high-reward ventures. His impact at Y Combinator was profound, overseeing the growth of startups like Airbnb, Dropbox, and Stripe, and expanding the accelerator’s reach and influence. These experiences positioned him as a key figure in Silicon Valley, known for his ability to identify and nurture groundbreaking innovation.

Altman’s authority on the subject of AGI and startup risk is rooted in both his track record and his vision. As CEO of OpenAI, he has overseen the development of some of the most advanced AI systems, including ChatGPT. His leadership has not only propelled OpenAI to the forefront of AI research but has also shaped global conversations around the ethical and societal implications of artificial intelligence. Altman’s willingness to “lean into” difficult decisions reflects a broader philosophy that has influenced the trajectory of technology and entrepreneurship.

The significance of Altman’s quote extends beyond OpenAI. It speaks to the nature of transformative innovation in any era: the most consequential advances often come from moments of collective resolve in the face of daunting odds. In today’s rapidly evolving markets, where disruptive technologies can redefine entire industries, Altman’s perspective offers a timeless lesson for entrepreneurs and investors alike — sometimes, the most pivotal decision is simply to begin.