When Sam Altman ‘used China to con’ the US government to fund OpenAI

 Sam Altman told US intelligence officials in 2017 that China had launched an “AGI Manhattan Project,” using the claim to push for billions in government funding—but when pressed for evidence, he said “I’ve heard things” and never followed up. A New Yorker investigation finds this was part of a broader pattern: Altman routinely shaped his pitch around his audience, with former OpenAI insiders documenting years of alleged deception. Sam Altman told US intelligence officials in 2017 that China had launched an “AGI Manhattan Project,” using the claim to push for billions in government funding—but when pressed for evidence, he said “I’ve heard things” and never followed up. A New Yorker investigation finds this was part of a broader pattern: Altman routinely shaped his pitch around his audience, with former OpenAI insiders documenting years of alleged deception.