Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has strongly refuted allegations of childhood sexual abuse made by his sister, Annie Altman.
In a letter co-signed by his mother and two brothers and shared on social media platform X, Altman described the claims as “deeply hurtful and entirely untrue.”
“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 wrote, addressing the complaint filed by Annie on Monday.
Altman, a leading figure in the tech world, rose to prominence following the 2022 launch of ChatGPT, a milestone in artificial intelligence that spurred global advancements in AI research.
At 39, he is considered one of Silicon Valley’s most influential figures, with a vision of creating “general” AI to benefit humanity.
The Altman family expressed that they have long supported Annie, covering her expenses and providing ongoing financial aid.
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“We have ensured monthly financial support, which we expect to continue for the rest of her life,” they said, while also noting that Annie has repeatedly demanded additional funds.
The family explained that they were compelled to respond publicly due to Annie’s legal filing, which they said follows years of tension. “The worst allegation she has made is that she was sexually abused by Sam as a child,” they stated.
According to the complaint, Annie alleges the abuse occurred between 1997 when she was three years old, and 2006. The family dismissed the claims as “utterly untrue,” asserting that Annie’s accusations have significantly changed over time.
They also noted that the latest lawsuit includes incidents allegedly occurring after Sam turned 18, which they categorically deny.
Annie, who is nine years younger than her brother, was profiled in New York Magazine in 2023, where she was described as an artist grappling with depression and familial estrangement.
She was also reported to support herself primarily through online sex work.
AFP
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