OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the BlackRock Infrastructure Summit on March 11, 2026 in Washington, DC. Altman has gone beyond the usual tech characterizations to something entirely more cinematic. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images There was a moment, after he staved off a boardroom-coup attempt just before Thanksgiving 2023, when Sam Altman played like a hero, repelling the dark forces of anti-progress.