Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, has more recently found himself in the culinary spotlight. It’s his rather idiosyncratic and controversial use of olive oil that’s been generating all the buzz. In a guest appearance in the Financial Times’ “Lunch with the FT” series, brought virtual and global, Altman made a garlicky pasta and vinaigretted salad at home. He showcased his favorite Graza olive oil, known for its chicly branded, on-trend squeeze bottles. His choice of using a “drizzle” finishing oil instead of the nearby “sizzle” oil has raised eyebrows and sparked discussions about culinary practices.
Altman, a millennial known for his innovative approach to technology and business, has garnered attention not just for his cooking but for his advocacy against traditional American copyright laws. Under his leadership, OpenAI achieved the fastest-growing tech “unicorn” record, raising $40 billion in a single funding round this year. The organization continues to wrestle with fiscal realities. According to news reports, OpenAI is said to have lost about $5 billion last year. At peak usage, the company was reportedly still losing money with its $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro plan.
The headline Financial Times piece dug deep into Altman’s culinary regimen. It particularly – and inexplicably – singled out his selection of olive oils, the two bottles that appear on his kitchen counter. Many dismiss the matter of his love for more expensive, faddish oil as a sideshow. According to critics, throwing prime ingredient prospects away is a grievous insult to horticulture. This contentious debate over the nature of school lunch taps into a broader discussion on food preparation and how to use high-quality, scratch ingredients to prepare them.
Altman’s demanding role at OpenAI requires immense dedication and focus, yet he still finds time to engage in culinary pursuits. His selection of Graza olive oil underscores a fascinating fact. Even leaders of tech companies have personal stories that bring them back to the real world. His high-profile olive oil debacle ignites some essential conversations on the ethics of cuisine. It nudges them into an accountability that demands they respect the pedigree of their produce.
Altman’s dazzling professional successes contrasted with his radically bohemian dietary habits paints a continuing portrait of the time. In addition to running OpenAI’s business, he’s a loud and active proponent of disruptive innovations and addressing financial challenges. In the meantime, his culinary habits serve to illustrate that even the most powerful of leaders must answer to public backlash over life’s minutiae.
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