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OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, has been accused of sexual abuse by his sister in a legal complaint

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Posted: 8th January 2025 by
LM News
Last updated 8th January 2025
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OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, has been accused of sexual abuse by his sister in a legal complaint.

The sister of Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, has initiated legal proceedings, claiming that he subjected her to sexual abuse over several years, beginning in their childhood.

The lawsuit, submitted on January 6 in a U.S. district court located in the Eastern District of Missouri, asserts that the abuse commenced when Ann Altman was three years old and Sam Altman was twelve. It further alleges that the final incident of abuse occurred while he was an adult, although his sister, referred to as Annie, remained a minor at that time. In response, the CEO of the company behind ChatGPT released a joint statement on X, which he co-signed with his mother, Connie, and his younger siblings, Max and Jack, categorically denying the allegations and describing them as “utterly untrue.” “Our family holds deep affection for Annie and is profoundly concerned about her wellbeing,” the statement indicated. “Supporting a family member with mental health challenges is an exceptionally challenging endeavor.”

It continued: “Annie has made profoundly damaging and entirely false accusations against our family, particularly against Sam. This situation inflicts significant distress on our entire family.” Ann Altman has previously voiced similar allegations against her brother on various social media platforms. According to the court documents, her legal representatives stated that she has suffered mental health issues as a consequence of the alleged abuse. The lawsuit seeks a jury trial and damages exceeding $75,000 (£60,000), in addition to legal expenses.

The family’s statement characterized Ann Altman’s claims as “deeply hurtful and entirely untrue” and accused her of seeking additional financial support. They noted that they had provided her with “monthly financial assistance” and had “sought to arrange medical treatment” for her, but she “declines conventional care.” The family had previously opted not to publicly address the allegations but felt compelled to respond following her decision to pursue legal action. Sam Altman, aged 39, is a prominent figure in the technology industry and is a co-founder of OpenAI, which is renowned for developing ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot that was launched recently.

In November 2023, the billionaire temporarily stepped down from his position as chief executive after being removed from the board of directors, which had charged him with a lack of consistent candor in his communications. Following this, a significant portion of the workforce indicated their intention to resign, prompting his return to the role the subsequent week. Altman was reinstated to the board in March of the previous year after an external investigation was conducted.

The legal dispute between Sam Altman and his sister over sexual abuse allegations has drawn significant attention. While Altman and his family deny the claims, stating they are false, the lawsuit continues with a demand for over $75,000 in damages. The case is ongoing, with potential long-term implications for the Altman family.

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