Sam Altman has revealed an unusually intense communication habit inside OpenAI—sending hundreds of messages to employees every day across Slack, texts, and other platforms.
Speaking at the Stripe Sessions event in conversation with Patrick Collison, Altman said the total adds up to roughly 39,000 messages per year, all sent manually.
A Hands-On CEO With a High-Volume Style
Despite describing his leadership approach as “hands-off,” Altman admitted his daily messaging habit suggests otherwise.
He emphasized that most messages are short—often just one or two lines—but frequent enough to keep him closely connected with teams across the company.
“The context I get from that sometimes is very helpful,” he said, explaining that the rapid exchanges help him stay informed in real time.
Love-Hate Relationship With Slack
Altman also shared his complicated feelings about workplace communication tools, particularly Slack.
“I hate Slack,” he admitted, while also acknowledging he cannot imagine modern work communication without it.
He added that switching back to older methods like email feels almost impossible in today’s fast-moving environment.
A Leadership Style Built on Delegation
The OpenAI CEO described his management philosophy as hiring highly capable people and giving them broad direction rather than micromanaging execution.
He said the goal is to allow teams to “just make things happen,” while he stays loosely connected through constant communication.
OpenAI’s Next Big Shift
Beyond communication habits, Altman also outlined how he sees the company evolving.
He described OpenAI as moving through multiple phases—from research lab, to consumer product company, and now toward what he called a “mega-scale token factory for the world.”
The shift, he suggested, will require a major rethink of leadership structure and execution strategy.
“I May Need to Change Everything”
Altman admitted that each transition has forced him to rethink his management style.
He suggested future changes could include:
- Hiring new leadership layers
- Adapting his approach to scale
- Or even building AI systems to help manage operations
“I either have to find someone great to hire, or figure out a different way to do things,” he said.
A Glimpse Into AI’s Fast-Moving Future
The interview highlights not only how OpenAI is evolving—but also how its CEO is still adapting alongside it.
As the company scales rapidly, Altman’s messaging-heavy approach reflects both the intensity and complexity of leading one of the world’s most influential AI organizations.
