--- title: "Sam Altman Says Muslim Colleagues Are Afraid to Speak Up" description: "OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tweeted that \"Muslim and Arab (especially Palestinian) colleagues\" are \"uncomfortable\" about speaking out." date: "2024-01-06" modified: "2024-01-06" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/sam-altman-muslim-colleagues-afraid-speak-up" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "antisemitism" - "OpenAI" - "sam altman" --- # Sam Altman Says Muslim Colleagues Are Afraid to Speak Up ![OpenAI CEO Sam Altman tweeted that "Muslim and Arab (especially Palestinian) colleagues" are "uncomfortable" about speaking out.]() *\Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Futurism\* The unfolding Gaza-Israel crisis has seen both antisemitism and Islamophobia skyrocket across the globe. Now, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has taken advantage of his considerable platform to call for support for both groups. "Muslim and Arab (especially Palestinian) colleagues in the tech community I've spoken with feel uncomfortable speaking about their recent experiences, often out of fear of retaliation and damaged career prospects," Altman [tweeted](). "Our industry should be united in our support of these colleagues; it is an atrocious time," he added. "I continue to hope for a real and lasting peace, and that in the meantime we can treat each other with empathy." It's an unusually candid and clear-headed sentiment coming from a tech CEO. Broadly speaking, executives of his stature tend to shy away from making politically charged statements — with one [notable exception](), of course. After being asked how he felt about the experience of Jewish colleagues, Altman offered an incisive comment. "I am Jewish," he replied. "I believe that antisemitism is a significant and growing problem in the world, and I see a lot of people in our industry sticking up for me, which I deeply appreciate." "I see much less of that for Muslims," he added. The war has led to a sharp incline in hate against both groups. Last month, the Council on American-Islamic Relations [noted]() that it had received a "staggering" 2,171 complaints over the past 57 days, a 172 percent increase over a similar two-month period in 2022. Meanwhile, the Anti-Defamation League [recorded a total of 2,031 antisemitic incidents](), a chilling 337 percent increase year-over-year. While Altman is using his reach to highlight the plights of Muslim tech workers, other tech CEOs are actively contributing to the problem. Take X-formerly-Twitter owner Elon Musk, who was singled out for [publicly agreeing with]() an appalling antisemitic claim about Jewish people last year. Musk has also added to the barrage of disinformation on his social media platform by recommending unvetted accounts that are [notorious for promoting lies](). In contrast, Altman's expression of concern is noteworthy — and shows how even some of the most influential business leaders are struggling to make sense of the violence in Gaza. "For a long time, I said that antisemitism, particularly on the American left, was not as bad as people claimed," Altman tweeted in early December. "I'd like to just state that I was totally wrong. I still don't understand it, really. Or know what to do about it." "But it is so fucked," he added. **More on Altman:** *[Sam Altman's Life Extension Guy Warns of Injections That Cause Wild Tumor Growth]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()