OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Calls for Empathy for Muslims in Tech

Samira Yusuf

January 6, 2024

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Advocates Empathy in Tech Amidst Rising Concerns for Muslims and Palestinians.

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Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, addresses the challenges Muslim and Palestinian individuals face in the tech industry, emphasizing the need for understanding and support.

As antisemitism and Islamophobia increase globally, Altman encourages empathy and highlights initiatives like Tech for Palestine, working to create positive change in the industry.

In an apparent reference to the effects of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated on Thursday that he thought people in the Muslim and Arab populations in the IT sector were hesitant to talk about their recent incidents.

In response to the ongoing war in Gaza, Altman notes hesitancy among Muslim and Arab populations in the IT sector to discuss recent incidents. On X (formerly Twitter), Altman highlights the silence surrounding these experiences due to fear of retaliation and potential damage to careers.

muslim and arab (especially palestinian) colleagues in the tech community i've spoken with feel uncomfortable speaking about their recent experiences, often out of fear of retaliation and damaged career prospects.

our industry should be united in our support of these colleagues;…
— Sam Altman (@sama) January 5, 2024

Encouraging empathy, Altman, the prominent leader of ChatGPT backed by Microsoft, calls for unanimous industry support for affected community members. He expresses hope for lasting peace and stresses the importance of mutual understanding during these challenging times.

Addressing the experiences of the Jewish community, Altman, who identifies as Jewish, acknowledges the significant and escalating issue of global antisemitism. While grateful for industry support, he notes a lack of Muslim advocacy.

Human rights activists highlight a surge in antisemitism and Islamophobia since Hamas’ attack on Israel, with the Council on American-Islamic Relations reporting a 172% increase in US occurrences. US antisemitic events rose by 337% between October 7 and December 7, according to the Anti-Defamation League’s December report.

Tech for Palestine, recently valued at $1.7 billion, emerged as an effort by investors and founders to create open-source tools and initiatives supporting Palestinian advocacy. Paul Biggar, founder of Tech for Palestine and CircleCI, underscores the initiative’s impact, stating that projects aim to amplify voices advocating for Palestine in the industry.