OpenAI's CCO Search: Sam Altman's Trust Issue

OpenAI is struggling to find a chief communications officer. Communications veteran Aaron Zamost believes the company's main problem is its CEO, Sam Altman. Zamost suggests Altman, as the company's chief spokesperson, is a widely distrusted figure. He compares this to Meta, where CEO Mark Zuckerberg's relatability issues impact user perception. Zamost argues that OpenAI is missing an opportunity to get people to happily use their products, which could affect the wider AI industry. He contrasts OpenAI with rival Anthropic, whose CEO, Dario Amodei, is less visible and more consistently focused on safety messaging. Zamost points out Altman's conflicting messages, warning of catastrophic threats while promoting ChatGPT. This presents a unique challenge for anyone leading communications at OpenAI.