OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says he is glad he rejected a Goldman Sachs internship offer while he was in college. Speaking about the decision years later, Altman describes it as a difficult “no” at the time, when pursuing such a role was widely seen as a top career path.
Altman says the corporate track he imagined then felt rigid and hierarchical, with limited room to create something new. He contrasts that with startup work, which he says offers more freedom to build products rather than follow a traditional ladder.
Across reports, the central point is Altman’s view that artificial intelligence has lowered barriers for students today to start companies independently. He argues that, because AI tools make it easier to build and make progress without as much external validation, students have more options and can more readily choose paths outside prestigious internships. One outlet also emphasizes peer pressure and his recollection of being talked into applying during college.
