Sam Altman, the chief executive officer of OpenAI, recently made headlines not only for his leadership in artificial intelligence but for his culinary choices. Altman’s appearance was part of an unusual breather from his day job, agitating to loosen American copyright law. In a recent exclusive, he invited the Financial Times into his kitchen for their “Lunch with the FT” series. What was initially intended to be a low-key cooking demonstration soon became a raucous forum on the joys of olive oil. Their surprising about face shocked the entire culinary world.
In his taste test–set up kitchen, Altman had both types of Graza olive oil on hand: “drizzle” and “sizzle.” Both are packaged in eye-catching and chic squeeze bottles, which have quickly been embraced by the social media aesthetic. He made us a sublime garlicky pasta and salad. Even with the sautéing oil right at hand, he always reached for the finishing oil from Graza for that final flourish. This decision made for a controversial choice, with critics calling it an “assault on horticulture,” report the Financial Times.
Altman’s preference for the trendy and pricey olive oil overshadowed the more pressing issue. His apparent misunderstanding of Graza’s product and its intended uses. Even critics were quick to realize that he would probably like the new branding on Graza’s products much better. They added that proper cooking oil use is more important than ever. This culinary faux pas has left many wondering. Shouldn’t someone in his position be less oblivious about the products they’re consuming?
At only 38, Altman represents a different breed of tech titans. He masterfully juggles the fundamental challenges of his demanding profession with his far-flung passions. In just the last year under his leadership, OpenAI raised an astounding $40 billion in funding. The firm faced some major financial hardship. According to media reports, OpenAI was operating at a loss of nearly $5 billion last year, even as it brought in revenues of $3.7 billion. The company has had a hard time recently sustaining its $200-per-month ChatGPT Pro plan.
While Altman’s choice of olive oil may seem trivial compared to the pressures of running a leading AI company, it has sparked a dialogue about culinary awareness among influential figures. His decision to weaponize our use of Graza’s “drizzle” oil is an unfortunate, but self evident, case in point. It’s a reminder that even the most senior experts can overlook fundamental knowledge in their respective domains.