Open AI CEO Sam Altman on Tuesday denied allegations by his sister Annie Altman, who filed a complaint accusing him of child sexual abuse.
“…Annie has made deeply hurtful and completely false statements about our family, especially Sam,” the head of the California startup said in a letter co-signed by his mother and two brothers, and posted on the social platform X.
“Our family loves Annie and is very concerned about her well-being. Caring for a family member dealing with mental health issues is incredibly difficult,” they wrote.
One of Silicon Valley’s most charismatic figures, Altman rose to global fame with the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, which launched a race to advance AI research and development.
Altman, 39, a prolific businessman and already a billionaire, has set himself the mission of developing a so-called “general” AI, with cognitive abilities similar to those of humans and that “benefits all of humanity.”
The Altman family said they have tried to help their daughter and sister, covering their expenses and guaranteeing her “monthly financial support, which we hope will continue for the rest of her life.”
“Despite this, Annie continues to demand more money from us,” they said, noting that they have decided to respond publicly following Anne’s legal complaint filed on Monday, and after years of tension.
“The worst allegation she has ever made is that Sam sexually abused her as a child,” the family said.
“His claims have evolved dramatically over time. New to this lawsuit, they now include allegations of incidents in which Sam was over 18 years old.
“All of these claims are completely false.”
According to the complaint, Annie, nine years younger than Sam Altman, alleges that the attacks occurred from 1997, when she was three years old, until 2006.
In a 2023 report for New York Magazine, a journalist who met Annie in Hawaii described her as an artist who suffered from depression and a growing rift with her family, and who supported herself primarily through online sex work.
