December 10, 2023 TIME Magazine has honored Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, with the title of 2023 CEO of the Year, a notable first for the publication which is universally known for its Person of the Year feature. This accolade comes after a year of significant developments and challenges for Altman and the broader AI industry.

Altman faced a challenging period at OpenAI, including a notable episode where he was temporarily removed and then reinstated as the CEO. This internal turmoil at OpenAI brought to light the profound influence of its innovations, especially ChatGPT and GPT-4, which have been pivotal in bringing artificial intelligence into the limelight and transforming the tech industry.

Under Altman’s direction, OpenAI transitioned from a nonprofit organization to a colossal $80 billion enterprise, mirroring his ambition to harness AI for the greater good of humanity. Nevertheless, the strife within the company sparked debates over its governance and the ethical development of AI technologies.

The reinstatement of Altman as CEO after such a dramatic series of events highlights his critical role in the AI field and the significant responsibilities that come with steering a leading tech company.

Sources include: TIME’s article on Sam Altman