OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says he got addicted to this ‘Larry Ellison’s app’
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared that he briefly became addicted to TikTok while researching its recommendation algorithm. He eventually deleted the app after finding its influence on his time and attention too difficult to manage.
Why it matters
It highlights the psychological impact of algorithmic social media platforms, even on leaders of the AI industry.
Even Sam Altman is not immune to the endless scrolling on TikTok. The OpenAI CEO recently revealed that he forced himself to get “addicted” to TikTok to study its mechanics only to delete the app after finding it “too powerful” to control. Speaking on a recent episode of the Relentless podcast, Altman shared how a research experiment to understand TikTok’s recommendation algorithm quickly spiraled into a personal distraction.“I made myself get addicted to TikTok, because I wanted to just learn. I really thought it was great. “And then I thought I could control it. I was like, 'Oh, it's actually kind of fun,' but I only use it for 10 minutes to wind down before bed, and I'm totally in control of it. And then it was an hour one night.
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