Sam Altman on Choosing Projects, Creating Value, and Finding Purpose

[@The-cyber-imbiber]

"OpenAI is doing really well" -- what an understatement

[@FsimulatorX]

brugh back in 2018 (around the time of this recording) Elon was saying they won't be able to do this without Tesla

[@The-cyber-imbiber]

you're totally right actually @@FsimulatorX

[@JoeGariano]

An example of a statement that has aged well.

[@nelsonc5339]

18:18 “surrounding yourself with people that will make you more ambitious”

[@raskolnikov6347]

@Crebs Park ???

[@shubhammishra478]

This has got to be the most worthy 30 minutes spent on the internet. Thanks Sam and amazing flow Craig.

[@mythnow]

This is really gonna balance out those 30 hours of cat internet..:3

[@Batman_akzo]

@@mythnow 🤣🤣🤣

[@FW7737]

abdullah zaheer o

[@JaydenLawson]

Comment has aged well

[@JanAmeriCanExpress]

2x video speed it’s just 15mins

[@El_Diablo_12]

11:57 sleep, exercise and nutrition 26:30 why commitment to one thing matters 27:30 figuring out basic financial security vs making the huge bucks 30:20 success requires some emotion duress, people can smell your commitment level

[@batirchariyev6888]

"Deferred life plan" discussion was eye-opening. Great talk. Thanks!

[@CosmonautCoding]

I remember the first time I listened to this (maybe 6 months ago), I wrote that exact line down and tapped it above desk. It's a simple yet really powerful idea

[@JamieRawsthorne-op1kh]

I thought it was interesting too but can’t help but think SpaceX and Blue Origin, the two most innovative rocket companies followed the path of making a ton of money first, then building the rockets

[@joelw2413]

Elon and bezos probably exceptions to the rule.

[@thedigitalceo]

Sam Altman is fierce. Such a force to learn from

[@notapplicable2u]

I absolutely adore Sam Altman. From what I’ve seen and heard thus far, he is very very much deserving of all the success and accolades he has gotten. We need more people like him working in tech.

[@samdemn]

Never confused the persona with what people deserve. I feel the same about him too, but we should be careful of that

[@proviah4770]

DON'T adore people! Adore God ONLY, FOR HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO IS WORTHY OF ALL OUR WORSHIP, PRAISE, ADORATION, AND OUR ALL. I LOVE YOU JESUS✝️ REPENT, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.

[@the_overman8302]

​@@proviah4770😂😂😂

[@01_abhijeet49]

Yeah, actually ilya sutskever is the genius behind chatgp5

[@gfang3694]

If you're a geek you probably know the explore/exploit tradeoff or the multi-armed bandit problem, which are related to what Sam talked about at the beginning of the video. Explore early on in one's career and exploit the info you've got from exploration should be an optimized strategy. I learnt this from the book Algorithms to Live By, would strongly recommend it.

[@tings3365]

The host constantly moving his chair and Sam has been sitting steadily the whole time. That’s very interesting to learn Sam has such a calm personality.

[@BackToBackSWE]

I wish this conversation went forever, I'd keep listening.

[@blazefrostt]

This is so packed with value and wisdom. Thank you guys!!

[@LoganMcNay]

I find it crazy I watched this video & others of Sam years ago and now that OpenAI has blown up, I'm revisiting these videos with a much different perspective.

[@mjai1120]

I took a little over a year off between jobs this past year and it’s been the most transformative experience, both personally and professionally, I’ve ever had. 🙏🏾 Truly a privilege, as Sam says. Highly recommended, if you can manage it!

[@sethgrayson2470]

This is such a great episode! Very well hosted by Craig.

[@PlasticCant]

6:34 I couldn't agree more. I was privileged enough to take 6 months off. I was able to check in on so much that I just took for granted and made so many decisions that resulted in a much better life.

[@Estrav.Krastvich]

Yeah, time is abilities.

[@idelakelly7636]

One of the smartest man alive

[@NzaliLab]

This guy is a visionary. Now I understand why and how he built OpenIA ❤

[@TAntonio]

Appreciate the reminders from Sam. I moved to SF specifically to work at a startup. This is basically my year off from founding!

[@dj0ai]

Sam is an interesting guy. It's great to see him at this moment in time. Before the world stardom.

[@prodcdebeatz7205]

Whatever you think of Sam, gotta appreciate him coming in sharing game

[@SiddharthKulkarniN]

Very cool interview. No beating around the bush. Thanks Sam

[@zkitty3838]

The advice “deferred life plan doesn’t work empirically and usually” gave me up to try balancing the rice-work and dream-work. Early retirement/FIRE movement sounds proud of their discipline to achieve their financial independence. But working just for money sometimes break my aspiration and curiosity to pursue, because I cannot stand with spending my time and effort for something not valuable I think, and I decrease the competency of self-believe. I’d like to say big thank you for Sam to make me wake up.

[@saloni379]

I love to read book by Sam Altsman to have an insight on his thoughts his approach and his viewpoint on business startupa etc

[@Estrav.Krastvich]

Probably his personal blog as a whole might be that thing.

[@saloni379]

@@Estrav.Krastvich can you share his personal blog

[@oln3678]

The host did a great job

[@Estrav.Krastvich]

"If you take Armodafinil or something you get 20" - my favorite part). Sam can't be so open and free to speak anymore with all that big politics around OpenAI, so a rare piece.

[@marcussosa-bassillio3189]

If the Y Combinator doesn't accept you because you're not far enough along to show rapid growth very soon, there are other incubators/accelerators out there. Like the Founders Institute and Launch accelerator

[@austinmartin9201]

enjoyed the honesty in his experiences

[@vambire02]

Austin Martin it would be very cool if your first name was Aston.

[@sup3a]

This is an amazing youtube channel. Wish more people would have the patience and interest in listening to these :-)

[@adamlee9347]

I love all the people at Y combinator!! Sam Altman, Paul Graham, Justin Kan etc.. Im just a high school student now, but will definitely apply to Y combinator later on.

[@estherlee6713]

Me too here. I mean I love them too

[@marcusposey5517]

Adam Lee That’s cool I’m in high school now also and definitely want to apply later. We should talk?

[@jeremykuo7788]

Adam Lee I’m in the YC Startup School and applying for the summer batch this year. I’ve seen you around YC videos a lot and I love connecting with other smart startup enthusiasts - let’s chat.

[@debasishdutta9073]

Don't wait for a good time it's never gonna come

[@adamlee9347]

@@marcusposey5517 sorry I just saw this mobile.twitter.com/AbecidAdam

[@SuperKillaki]

If you distill what he is saying it really is just try some stuff, stay healthy and use a mixture of data and your intuition to optimise your time. One cool way I keep the value of my time at the forefront of my thinking is I wrote a function that notifies me what every monetary expenditure I make is as function of my productive time. So if I spend $100 i get a notification saying “You spent 120mins to get that purchase” Seems to be making me second guess any frivolous spending + remind me my time is valuable.

[@potowogreedo]

You can apply the inverse to your free time. I value my free time more than double my hourly rate. This helps me cut out time-wasters like Facebook, Reddit etc. HN is the one website of that ilk where I can justify it as part of my 'explore/exploit' activities. The rest is just ideology, 'non-free time', creating value for a foreign corporation which optimises towards sustaining the last vestiges of my 'addiction mindset' leftover from cigs & alcohol & etc.

[@MissPerriwinkle]

such a brilliant lad, mercy....

[@ansleymiao1204]

Most useful videos ever, thanks for this podcast, my role model Sam Altman!

[@ukrainaponaduse3728]

Amazing interview. Thanks for sharing and inspiration!

[@Estrav.Krastvich]

A precious talk.

[@avinashdwivedi2015]

every word is GOLD.

[@ansleymiao1204]

Totally debunked and made me realize my previous mistakes, so timely!

[@hellosagar]

worth spending time to listen

[@Intelligenceisawesome]

💡20:11 Changing system leads to plasticity. Hence don't overcomplicate things. Change system slowly.

[@leonleon8715]

I was 13 when Everquest came out. I would play/hardcore grind around 16-18 hours a day and then sleep for 12-14 hours. Some days I'd play for 30-36 hours straight and sleep for 16-18 hours straight. I never played less than 10 hours a day. My nights and days would flipflop and there were many instances when I'd stay up (keep gaming) for an extra 8-12 hours just to "reset my clock" (AKA be awake during the day). I did this for years. Once I spent 3 months straight doing this without going outside. This wasn't my introduction to gaming but it was my first grindy mmorpg. That level of intense gaming never went away. I've done this with a lot of games, I have over 40,000 hours in PC gaming. At work, I can basically do the same thing if nobody demotivates me. It's very easy for me to put 12-14 hours on the clock. I might not even eat, or drink water, sometimes I wont use the bathroom, I just get sucked in... I've had kidney stone problems because of this (not drinking water at all). But in order for me to be able to achieve that, I can't experience demotivation. Office politics, bad players, etc. will result in less than an hour of work a day with many many breaks...

[@ghostglory8057]

10:17 the best thing about investing in a lot companies

[@zwill62]

This 30mins is probably more useful than what I learned past year I need to stop wasting my time😂

[@artur330]

Genius, so motivating!

[@mosialive]

Loved it... A very good conversation.

[@julianriise5618]

Sam Altman on Joe Rogan, has it been done? Can it be done??

[@CosmonautCoding]

Sign me up

Now it has!

[@matt.stevick]

Holy Smokes. Sam Altman pre AI 🤖 Boom.

[@TheAIEpiphany]

I love the 0 BS silicon valley mentality, so refreshing

[@ianborukho]

Watching this during my year+ off :D :D :D

[@Siovioarx_urdu]

Just appreciate having a job opportunity before think or work smart

[@Hastingsnow]

Thank you for sharing!

[@kumarmyanmars]

What a great video and just at the right timing to the day, I needed to hear this. This makes me rethink about a lot of things. But how do you change your work to what you really love when you've already invested too long to what you don't. I guess it comes down to disruptive change in retrospective and risk appetite, saved for later thought.

[@saismaran8958]

So what type of dog are we getting?

[@pathakkkk]

it's called the sunk cost fallacy

[@wonderit918]

First 5 seconds, very contemporaneous.

[@SalmanNeedsAJob]

I am watching this episode on Dec 31st today, and Sam is giving me straight up tip on what I should be doing on this date / now. Check out 3:56

[@ChristianHedman]

Who is this guy and how did I not hear about him before KZbin algorithm presented this video to me? The way he thinks is beautiful

[@MikeWilliamsYoroomie]

Another great vid and please keep these coming!

[@ГлебВерховский-п2р]

Watching this video in November 2023.Sam is so much more mature now. Eslecially, acter the unfortunafe eposode with firing him from his post at OpenAI.

[@vincenzodigennaro8025]

This guy is excellent

[@Estrav.Krastvich]

By the way, if you didn't read the whole Sam's blog yet, it could be very interesting thing to do.

[@shimkporku1814]

10:47 Bill Gates played a lot of poker at Harvard as well.

[@adamlee9347]

Wow didn't know that

[@VineetSinha]

"It's nice to be back" - Sam Altman, 2018, 2023, 2028...

[@i_youtube_]

This guy is very inspiring. You should figure out how to apply Sam's mindset in your own way.

[@Math_kru_earng]

thanks a lot!

[@seanflanagan8155]

The Call is to start with YC. That’s the path.

[@Cristobal8605]

The bromance is strong

[@zcanann]

I'd love to see a conversation with a sleep scientist/expert . I don't have a specific person in mind. Your guests have said they needed wildly different things (4 hours of sleep, 8 hours, 9+ etc), I'm curious about the science of it -- lots of misinformation in the startup world around this

[@ycombinator]

Good idea! Thanks. -Craig

[@aldig3935]

7 hrs but it depends,theres a stage of sleep that one must not be disturb as its the real recovery period..if u woke up and grumpy and tired, its likely its at this stage.ill leave u something to research on.

[@moarshath1868]

Its covered here, www.goodreads.com/book/show/34466963-why-we-sleep

[@alefalfa]

There is no one I would trust more with opening the door to AGI than Sam

[@avatarhzh5035]

If they wanted to make a Diablo II movie in 50 years time with the Necromancer as the main character, Sam Altman would be PERFECT for the role.

[@jaywalker11]

Thank you for the great insight

[@Oscarnnanna]

Sam the goat 🐐

[@pradyumnaprusty38]

What did he mention the two things that helped him understand risk? Poker and _____ ? Did he say "Big Iron Science and Engineering Projects in History"?

[@Estrav.Krastvich]

Angel investing I guess.

[@malonium]

Great post

[@jay4450]

My guy was flexing the whole time

[@karlk5801]

18:29 "Basically all people, almost like 98% of people in the world will try to pull you back and say it seems a little bit too crazy, a little bit too out there, a little too ambitious."

[@skywalker1574]

25:00 deferred life plan

[@kebabmarley2505]

Hanes t-shirts and Lacroix

[@neo69121]

so meta

[@swfh3542]

GOAT....🔥

[@marcosalcantara8050]

I always come to watch Sam talking when I loose one morning worth of code in a vagrant destroy

[@AbhikChakraborty1]

33:36 what does this mean " intelligence is so highly rated that people seem oddly disconnected from their bodies" ?

[@pjacefilms]

Basically that computer nerds will neglect their bodies because working out isn’t a status symbol in Silicon Valley as much as being seen as smart is

[@jayaram.ramanarayanan]

Crazy this starts with “Alright.. the return of Sam Altman..” 💀

[@Pl15604]

1:45 "playing status and power games" to him it feels ... "so fun"?! What the heck?!

[@fergalhennessy775]

11:42 bro lost his shirt 🤣🤣🤣

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

Great video. In the old days, we were only able to read this stuff. With video now, we can see what modern business uniforms actually look like! I used to be surprised that people like Zuckerberg and Jobs, excuse me, that's Mark and Steve, could pay a thousand dollars for a T-shirt. Now I've come to my senses: I see it's the natural replacement for the $5,000 three-piece suit.

[@adityasanthosh702]

What's wrong with $5,000 three-piece suits.

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

@@adityasanthosh702 If you're a centi-billionaire hoping to become a trillionaire, I think the style is the $2,000 T-shirt with one's face firmly fixed in a sneer whenever you utter the phrase "the suits." I've never been to Stanford Junior Univesity, but isn't that what "Mark and Steve" learned there? Along with theft of other people's ideas, that is...

[@adityasanthosh702]

@@TheDavidlloydjones Well, in a positive way, Those $2,000 T-shirts are way comfortable than those suits. Also they started as a normal people too. I am sure they won't look down upon Average Income Earners. Those Middle Class Employees are the ones they stand upon.

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

@@adityasanthosh702 I dunno, Aditya. five years ago Zuckerberg was your usual hippy-dippy grad-school coding genius who'd just tripped over his first billion courtesy of Sand Hill Road. His politics were about what you'd expect from your normal average, jeans-and-T-shirt wearing, all-night coder: Kumbayah for immigration reform. Today he's a dominant monopolist with very sharp business elbows and a powerful machine that elected Donald Trump and is working to do it again. Middle-class employees? He relies on a handful of stock-option multi-millionaires as manages and his grunt labor is tens of thousands of underpaid Philippine women. There's no middle-class in that structure: it's wealthy but tractable overseers and peasant labor. His business uniform: same as that worn by another sharp and shady Master of the Universe, the famous invention-thief Steve Jobs. Oh-so-humble, those T-shirts.

[@adityasanthosh702]

@@TheDavidlloydjones agree with the Monopoly and Anti Trust Laws.

[@ER-sv1np]

สร้าง และ บริหาร openAi ได้ยังไง?

[@ericb.grynspan5452]

Chapters please!

[@ditonarendro2019]

9:10 : how do you figure out what to commit to? Be brutality honest to yourself. It's hard. Because you usually anchor yourself to... 24:25 : balance between close and open your door. Sam Altman spend 10-15 hours/week to random stuff (most of them are rubbish, but when it works, it's very valuable. You can't cut it all totally, but if you're not willing to work hard, then you do have to just cut it down a lot

[@Omahaneb6]

Inspiring

[@UnCanny_]

Damm ,this has only one Dis like , (Im using Vanced )

[@akshaykamathb2788]

1:14 I think it's very easy to spend a decade being incredibly bussy & Incridibally stressed everyday & feeling like you are working incredibly hard & creating a ton of movement but not moving forward. 15:49 rd "days r long, decades r short", it's a blog?

[@archak737]

Sam was going to say something deep after saying about seeds were planted at that time ( of break) and the interviewer interrupted 🤦 He later took Sam to what went wrong in break and why 🤦🤦 Focus on what came positive out of it what Sam wanted to say! Could have helped so many people!

[@theempoleon78]

Could you link to a copy of their essays in the descriptions? Being able to read them would be really helpful.

[@MarketingBabyCom]

14:10 what’s the lecture he references?

[@anjalikhandelwal7129]

What is the Heming lecture?

[@jianghong6444]

you and your research, you can find a copy of transcript.

[@JaydenLawson]

The Heming Lecture is a series of lectures organized by the Centre for Advanced International Theory (CAIT). These lectures feature eminent theorists discussing crucial issues in the field of International Relations

[@Stock2003]

What lecture is it referred to at 14:29

[@bhosleraja]

i do feel that the world moves too slow , enough time for us to work on a better product

[@bhosleraja]

get into your own , know your actions , don't judge yourself on what people think about you , anytime you could prove them wrong , belive belive

[@bidhanmajhi]

Sama and jack ma, two guys always talk a lot of effective things that actually works in real life

[@aminuolawale1843]

26:34 , just ridiculed my masterplan :(

[@NurlanTurganov-q9f]

Поверьте в успех моего стартапа. поданной мною в этом году как заявку:

[@bulleshah2028]

Hollywood have Spider man... California have sam altman

[@hobo8610]

The Thiel cut, eh

[@dhruvvarshney400]

He is junior Elon musk

[@MarcusVini2023]

Cadê a equipe?😮