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Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in artificial intelligence (AI). His recent comments on DeepSeek, a rising AI competitor, offer insight into both his leadership style and his perspective on innovation within the field.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Altman remarked, “The DeepSeek team is very talented and did a lot of good things. I don't think they figured out something way more efficient than we figured out.” This assessment highlights his respect for competing teams while underscoring his confidence in OpenAI’s own technological progress.
DeepSeek caused a near-“flash crash” among stocks involved in the AI ecosystem at the beginning of 2025 after they released an AI model to rival U.S. models at a fraction of the cost. However, the DeepSeek team largely used the OpenAI API to train their model, and, ultimately didn’t create anything novel, according to Altman.
Altman’s authority on the subject is well established. After dropping out of Stanford University to pursue entrepreneurial ventures, he co-founded Loopt, a location-based social networking startup that sold for $43.4 million. He then served as president of Y Combinator, where he played a pivotal role in launching and scaling numerous successful startups, cementing his reputation as a force in Silicon Valley.
In 2015, Altman co-founded OpenAI, leading the organization through the development of groundbreaking technologies such as GPT-3, DALL-E, and ChatGPT. Under his guidance, OpenAI has secured major investments, including a multi-year $10 billion partnership with Microsoft (MSFT), and has become a central player in the global AI landscape.
Altman’s comment on DeepSeek is consistent with his broader approach to competition. While he acknowledges the achievements of other teams, he remains focused on the rigorous, incremental progress that has defined OpenAI’s trajectory. His statement that DeepSeek has not discovered “something way more efficient” than OpenAI’s own methods suggests a belief in the robustness and scalability of his own company’s research and infrastructure. This pragmatic outlook is characteristic of Altman, who has often emphasized the importance of responsible innovation and continuous improvement over comparing oneself to their competitors.
The context of Altman’s remarks is particularly relevant as the AI industry becomes increasingly crowded with well-funded entrants and rapid technical advances. His perspective that efficiency breakthroughs are rare, even among talented teams, reflects both the complexity of the field and the high bar set by leading organizations. Altman’s leadership has positioned OpenAI at the forefront of this competition, with products like ChatGPT achieving historic adoption rates and shaping public discourse on AI’s potential and risks.
Altman’s frank response also aligns with his reputation for transparency and realism. He has consistently advocated for open discussion about AI’s capabilities and limitations, both within the industry and in broader society.
As the market for advanced AI models continues to evolve, Altman’s perspective serves as a reminder that progress is often incremental and that leadership in this space requires both innovation and humility. His experience navigating the challenges of rapid technological change lends weight to his assessments, reinforcing his status as a trusted voice in the ongoing evolution of artificial intelligence.
