Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and a prominent Silicon Valley entrepreneur, has been accused of sexual abuse by his sister, Ann Altman, in a lawsuit filed on Monday.
The allegations, spanning nearly a decade from 1997 to 2006, claim that Altman repeatedly abused his sister at their family home in Clayton, Missouri.
Ann, who was three years old when the alleged abuse began, has stated that the incidents caused her severe emotional and mental distress, effects she continues to grapple with today.
The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, accuses Altman of engaging in abusive activities several times a week. Ann claims the abuse initially involved oral sex and later escalated to penetration.
The filing also alleges that some of these incidents occurred after Altman had reached adulthood. Ann is seeking a jury trial and damages exceeding $75,000.
In response to these accusations, Altman issued a public statement on January 7, co-authored by his mother, Connie, and brothers, Max and Jack.
The statement denies the allegations and expresses concern for Ann’s well-being, suggesting that her claims may be linked to ongoing mental health challenges.
“Our family loves Annie and is very concerned about her well-being. Caring for a family member who faces mental health challenges is incredibly difficult. We know many families facing similar struggles understand this well,” the family wrote.
The statement also highlighted years of financial and emotional support provided to Ann by the family. They allege that she has continued to make demands for money and has made “deeply hurtful and entirely untrue claims” about Sam and other family members.
The Altman family noted that while they had refrained from addressing these allegations publicly out of respect for Ann’s privacy, the legal action has compelled them to respond. They firmly deny her accusations, calling them “entirely untrue” and inconsistent over time.
“The worst allegation she has made is that she was sexually abused by Sam as a child. Her claims have evolved drastically over time. Newly for this lawsuit, they now include allegations of incidents where Sam was over 18,” the statement added.
This is not the first time Ann has made public accusations against her brother, but it marks the first occasion she has pursued legal action.
Sam Altman, known globally for his work in artificial intelligence, rose to prominence following the success of OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot, which garnered massive attention after its launch in late 2022.
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