- Sam Altman headlined Italian Tech Week the day after three key OpenAI execs, including its CTO, resigned.
- Altman briefly addressed the leadership exodus before discussing the Industrial `Revolution and nuclear energy.
- Despite the drama at OpenAI, the audience was captivated by Altman's vision and humor, cheering his long-term goals.
Watching Sam Altman take his seat onstage to headline Italian Tech Week, you would not have guessed it was in the immediate aftermath of an executive exodus.
On Wednesday evening, the OpenAI chief shared a post on X thanking his outgoing CTO, Mira Murati, for her six years at the company.
The next day, I watched him ushered backstage at a venue in Turin, Italy, flanked by a security crew.
Altman's already dizzying star power appeared to have been amplified by the latest drama at the company behind ChatGPT. I had to wrestle my way to the front of a packed auditorium that was electric with excitement.
As Michael Lavner, an investor at Exor Ventures and moderator of the event, announced Altman's arrival, every head in the room eagerly pointed in his direction.
People discontinued their hushed conversations as Altman waltzed onto the stage, accompanied by the chairman of Stellantis and Ferrari, John Elkann. Both were greeted by a flurry of phones documenting the two perched on sofas placed on a slowly revolving stage.
Would Altman address the corporate restructure-shaped elephant in the room?
We got our answer immediately.
He began by thanking Murati and the other two outgoing executives, VP of research Barret Zoph and chief research officer Bob McGrew, for their contributions.
Then, he appeared to discredit the idea that their departures were connected to reports that OpenAI is preparing to restructure as a for-profit benefit corporation.
"Our board has been thinking about that for almost a year, independently, as we think about what it takes to get to our next stage," Altman said. "I think this is just about people being ready for new chapters of their lives and a new generation of leadership."
The conversation swiftly moved on to Altman's ambitions for OpenAI. "I'm incredibly excited about voice mode," he announced. It feels just as magical as ChatGPT did."
The audience ardently listened to every word, and the crowd was free from the usual chatter that had been a staple at previous panels during the conference. Altman fluidly responded to all of Elkann's questions, rarely missing a beat before diving into his answers.
It was hard not to be impressed by his conviction and confidence in his own vision. He sat upright for the entire conversation, maintaining eye contact with Elkann but also acknowledging the audience through the occasional quip, including a self-deprecating joke about ChatGPT-3 or 01.
Altman seemed to know how to impress the audience as he moved between topics that included capitalism, nuclear energy, and the Industrial Revolution. When asked about his long-term goals and ambitions, he said, "I hope we won't be burning much carbon by 2050." The audience erupted into cheers and murmurs of affirmation.
The 45-minute conversation was affable. Altman's demeanor was casual but confident throughout, and it was clear the audience felt at ease. Those around me were edged forward in their seats every time he spoke. Photographers circled the stage in the final few minutes before he wrapped up.
When his talk ended, I turned to ask an attendee how he found the talk — he responded with a huge smile plastered on his face.
The OpenAI talent exodus may have become the joke of the moment in tech world, but in Turin, at least, Altman still has plenty of fans.