Discussion: The Optimist: Sam Altman, Y Combinator, and OpenAI
Join us for a discussion based on The Optimist: Sam Altman, OpenAI, and the Race to Invent the Future by Keach Hagey.
📖 Here is how it works:
Prior to the event: choose your level of participation:
Light: Watch the following 30-min Video by the book author: YouTube Link
In-depth: Read the book (Amazon Link, Audible Link)
During the event: We will breakout into small groups (max 6 people per group). Participants that opted to read the selected book will be grouped together.
Discussion Questions:
1. Altman built his influence not just through innovation, but by cultivating a powerful network during his years at Y Combinator. How can we think more intentionally about building networks that don’t just benefit individuals, but also strengthen collective progress in society?
2. Altman is willing to pursue ventures with only a tiny chance of success if the upside is transformative. How might we apply this mindset of high-risk, high-reward decision-making to areas of our own work, while still balancing responsibility?
3. His failed startup Loopt became a training ground for resilience and relationship building, shaping his later success. In what ways can we reframe setbacks as opportunities to forge skills and connections that prepare us for future impact?
4. Altman had a vision for AI long before the technology matured, positioning himself to act when breakthroughs arrived. How can we as a group practice cultivating long-term vision so we are ready to act when opportunities finally align with reality?
5. OpenAI’s unusual structure created a clash between those focused on caution and those driven by possibility. What can we learn from this about designing organizations that can both innovate quickly and guard against harmful outcomes?
6. Over time, the meaning of “safety” shifted from existential threats to practical issues like bias and alignment. How should we decide which risks deserve our attention first when evaluating powerful new technologies?
7. AI’s greatest risk may be the economic and societal disruption caused by concentrated power among a few companies. What steps should we advocate for to ensure that transformative technologies distribute benefits broadly rather than concentrating them?
👥 Who should join
AI practitioners, policymakers, students, and researchers curious about AI’s development and impact.
Community Ground Rules
To provide an enjoyable experience for fellow participants, here are three ground rules during discussion events:
Step up and step back. (If you feel that you’ve been talking too much, step back to listen more. If you feel that you’ve been relatively quiet, step up to share your perspective or ask a question)
Listen to understand, not to respond.
Be open-minded and value differences.