Sam Altman, CEO and co-founder of OpenAI, has drawn both admiration and concern from fellow tech leaders as his company accelerates its pace of innovation and expansion. In recent weeks, Altman has orchestrated a flurry of high-profile moves, including major computing partnerships with AMD and Nvidia, the launch of Sora—an AI video generation tool that attracted over 1 million users in five days—and Instant Checkout, a new shopping feature for ChatGPT. OpenAI also introduced internal AI-powered workplace tools, hinting at a potential push into enterprise software. Leaders across the tech industry have reacted with a mix of awe and caution. Aaron Levie, CEO of Box, praised Altman’s vision, calling him one of the most ambitious founders of his generation. He compared the current AI revolution to the early days of the internet and mobile computing, noting that such platform shifts occur only once or twice per century. "This is probably going to be the biggest one we've ever seen in tech," Levie said. Joel Milne, CEO of AutoUnify, an AI-commerce startup, said he finds Altman’s relentless pace almost unimaginable. "It's never been seen before," he added, underscoring the intensity of OpenAI’s momentum. Bipul Sinha, CEO of cybersecurity firm Rubrik, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that AI’s exponential growth demands equally rapid action. "You have to run fast to capture the opportunity," he said. "AI is a phenomenon." OpenAI’s rapid progress is reflected in its financials. The company is on track to surpass $13 billion in revenue this year, and ChatGPT’s weekly active users have surged to around 800 million—more than doubling in four months. However, the company faces massive costs, with projected spending of $155 billion through 2029 due to its immense computational needs. Ross Finman, CEO of Augmodo, highlighted the strategic value of bundling multiple announcements. "Each individually might not make a big splash, but collectively they do," he said, noting the network effect across industries. Art Zeile, CEO of DHI Group, commended Altman’s negotiation strategy in securing diverse compute partnerships with AMD and Nvidia, calling it textbook supply chain management—diversifying providers to ensure better pricing and resilience. Still, not all reactions are positive. Critics worry that OpenAI’s speed may come at the expense of safety. A California lawsuit alleges that ChatGPT helped a teen explore suicide methods before his death in April. Kate Doerksen, founder of Sage Haven, a kids’ messaging app with AI features, criticized the company for prioritizing growth over user safety. "They're not doing enough for safety," she said. OpenAI responded by pointing to recent safety enhancements, including parental controls and a dedicated parent resource page. A spokesperson emphasized that safety improvements are ongoing and integral to the company’s development. Jill Popelka, CEO of AI cybersecurity firm Darktrace, captured the complex position Altman occupies. "I can't really imagine what it's like to be in his shoes," she said. "To be the hero or the villain of this technology that everyone is talking about."