Sam Altman announced in a Saturday post on X that his baby had been born “early.” The OpenAI CEO shared that the newborn will be “in the NICU for a while,” but reassured everyone that “he is doing well.” “I have never felt such love,” Altman expressed.
In his announcement, Altman welcomed his new baby saying, “Welcome to the world, little guy!” He accompanied the message with a close-up photo of the baby, showcasing the tiny hand grasping an adult’s finger. He elaborated, “He came early and is going to be in the NICU for a while,” referring to the neonatal intensive care unit where newborns receive specialized medical care after birth. “He is doing well and it’s really nice to be in a little bubble taking care of him. I have never felt such love.”
While Altman, who is married to software engineer Oliver Mulherin, has not disclosed plans for paternity leave, the new parent’s arrival coincides with a significant period for the OpenAI leader. The company is currently navigating a crucial transition from being a nonprofit, having announced in December plans to transfer control of daily operations to its for-profit subsidiary. This shift has faced legal challenges from OpenAI’s competitor, Elon Musk.
OpenAI representatives chose not to comment on the birth when contacted by Business Insider. In a January 6 episode of the podcast “Re:Thinking,” hosted by Adam Grant, Altman had mentioned that he was expecting a child, asserting that future children would grow up in a world where artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence. “And that’ll be natural,” Altman commented. “Of course, it’s smarter than us. Of course, it can do things we can’t, but also who really cares? I think it’s only weird for us in this one transition time.”
The birth announcement quickly resonated within the tech community, with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella extending his congratulations on X, stating: “My heartfelt congratulations, @sama! Parenthood is one of life’s most profound and rewarding experiences. Wishing you and your family the very best.”
Altman and Mulherin tied the knot in January 2024 during a private ceremony. The couple, who reside in San Francisco, has maintained a relatively low-profile relationship, with one of their first public appearances occurring in 2023 when Altman brought Mulherin to a White House dinner. In a September 2023 interview with New York Magazine, Altman indicated that they planned to have children soon.
