Sam Altman

Co-founder and chief executive of OpenAI, and former president of the startup accelerator Y Combinator.

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Topics covered

AI Research, Scientific Credit and Integrity1 sourced eventDates: September 8, 2026

Recent statements

September 8, 2026Defended or excused

Addressed record

OpenAI improperly pressured the researchers over authorship and publication of the mathematical results.

“acted with integrity and generosity throughout”

Speaker capacity: OpenAI leader who says he spent the weekend speaking with the team
Editorial rationale: Explicit interested defense of the company's intentions and actions.

Sam Altman defends the team and explains its proposed publication arrangements (opens in a new tab)

View context Did OpenAI improperly pressure mathematicians over authorship and credit?

Dossiers

Related cases

Case record

Did OpenAI improperly pressure mathematicians over authorship and credit?

Tristan Buckmaster describes pressure over authorship and publication during discussions about competing AI-assisted mathematics results. Sébastien Bubeck disputes that characterization and says the proposed authorship concerned OpenAI's own proof. His apology for career-related wording does not settle the disagreement. Researchers and commentators divide over whether the negotiations were appropriate, while raising a separate dispute about the treatment of unpublished user research.