Sam Altman, the Chief Executive Officer of Open AI, acknowledged that his previous assessment of the extent of antisemitism within the “American left” was “completely mistaken.”
In a recent post on his social media account, Altman reflected, “I used to downplay the prevalence of hatred, particularly within the American left, dismissing it as less severe than reported by others. I now realize how wrong I was.”
Expressing his bewilderment at the phenomenon, Altman admitted, “I still struggle to comprehend it fully or determine the appropriate course of action. It’s truly distressing,” he added.
Altman, a prominent figure in the business world, was recently reinstated as the CEO of OpenAI following a well-publicized power struggle that led to his temporary removal by the board.
Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has been vocal in urging the removal of university leaders, including those at UPenn and Harvard, who have failed to condemn incitements to violence against Jews.
Against the backdrop of the recent terrorist attacks by Hamas extremists in Israel, which resulted in the loss of over 1,200 lives, tensions have escalated on university campuses over the past two decades.
A parliamentary commission recently questioned the heads of Harvard, UPenn, and MIT regarding the prevalence of hatred on their campuses.
During the inquiry, Ackman demanded the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay, UPenn President Liz Magill, and MIT President Sally Kornbluth after they hesitated to unequivocally denounce calls for violence against Jews.
In response to queries about the boundaries of free speech on campus, President Gay stated that the context was crucial, a sentiment echoed by Presidents Kornbluth and Magill.
Ackman criticized the academic leaders for their perceived failures in fostering a safe and inclusive educational environment, suggesting that similar responses in the corporate world would lead to immediate repercussions.
Additionally, Ackman shared a message from Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, who expressed deep dismay at the leaders’ responses, drawing parallels to the Holocaust and condemning the lack of moral clarity in academia.
Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., a prominent alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, threatened to withhold donations unless the university severed ties with its current leadership.
