OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday denied allegations from his sister, Annie Altman, who has filed a complaint accusing him of childhood sexual abuse. In a letter co-signed by his mother and two brothers, Altman stated, "...Annie has made deeply hurtful and entirely untrue claims about our family, especially Sam." The letter was published on the social platform X.
"Our family loves Annie and is very concerned about her well-being. Caring for a family member who faces mental health challenges is incredibly difficult," the family added.
Sam Altman, 39, has become one of Silicon Valley's most charismatic figures, rising to global fame with the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, which sparked a race in AI research and development. A prolific entrepreneur and billionaire, Altman has focused on developing a so-called "general" AI with cognitive abilities similar to humans, aiming to "benefit all of humanity."
The Altman family also shared that they had been supporting Annie financially, covering her expenses, and providing "monthly financial support, which we expect to continue for the rest of her life." Despite this, they claim Annie continued to demand more money.
The family explained they chose to respond publicly following the legal complaint filed by Annie on Monday and after years of family tension. They rejected her allegations, particularly the claim of sexual abuse. "The worst allegation she has made is that she was sexually abused by Sam as a child," they said, adding, "Her claims have evolved drastically over time. Newly for this lawsuit, they now include allegations of incidents where Sam was over 18."
According to the complaint, Annie, who is nine years younger than Sam, alleges that the abuse occurred from 1997, when she was three, until 2006. In a 2023 report for New York Magazine, a journalist described Annie as an artist dealing with depression and a growing rift with her family. She was said to support herself primarily through online sex work.
