OpenAI chief Sam Altman sends 39,000 messages annually to maintain pulse

OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman has revealed a surprising contradiction in his management approach, disclosing that he personally messages "a few hundred" employees every day.

Speaking with Stripe CEO Patrick Collison at the recent Stripe Sessions event, Altman explained that his frequent contact across Slack and various messaging platforms serves as a vital tool for maintaining institutional context.

Despite describing his overarching style as "decidedly hands-off," Altman estimates he sends roughly 39,000 messages annually, insisting that none are generated by artificial intelligence.

Altman’s philosophy is rooted in high-level delegation—hiring exceptional talent and providing broad direction—yet he uses these short, frequent interactions to stay calibrated with the wider organisation.

He expressed a notable ambivalence toward Slack, admitting he "hates" the platform while acknowledging he cannot imagine a modern alternative to its efficiency.

This high-volume, low-depth communication strategy allows him to bypass the traditional inner circle and maintain a direct pulse on the company’s diffuse operations.

Looking toward the future, Altman characterised OpenAI as entering a "third phase," transitioning from a research-focused lab to a "mega, mega scale token factory for the world."

He was candid about the personal disruptions this growth entails, admitting that his current management instincts may not suffice for this new era of extreme scale.

To navigate this shift, Altman suggested he may need to hire specialised leaders or eventually develop an AI system capable of managing the company's increasingly complex requirements.