OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has welcomed his first child, announcing the birth of a baby boy in a heartfelt post on X.
“Welcome to the world, little guy!” Altman wrote on Saturday, sharing a photo of a newborn grasping an adult’s finger.
The 39-year-old billionaire revealed that his son arrived early and would need to spend some time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). However, he reassured followers that the baby was doing well.
“He came early and is going to be in the NICU for a while. He is doing well, and it’s really nice to be in a little bubble taking care of him,” he said. He also reflected on the emotional impact of fatherhood, adding, “I have never felt such love.”
Altman married his longtime partner, Australian software engineer Oliver Mulherin, in early 2024. The couple’s wedding photos, featuring a seaside ceremony, went viral in January, and Altman later confirmed their marriage in a message to NBC News. The two have maintained a relatively private relationship, though they made a rare public appearance together in 2023 when Mulherin accompanied Altman to a White House dinner. Their desire to have children was no secret. In September 2023, Altman told New York Magazine that the couple wanted to start a family soon.
Altman has spoken openly about the role of artificial intelligence in shaping future generations. In a January episode of the Re:Thinking podcast with Adam Grant, he discussed how his child will grow up in a world where AI surpasses human intelligence. “My kid is never gonna grow up being smarter than AI,” he said. “And that’ll be natural. And of course, it’s smarter than us. Of course, it can do things we can’t, but also, who really cares?”
Following the birth announcement, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft—one of OpenAI’s biggest investors—was among the first to send well wishes. “My heartfelt congratulations. Parenthood is one of life’s most profound and rewarding experiences. Wishing you and your family the very best,” Nadella commented.
While Mulherin has not commented on whether he will take paternity leave, the birth of their son comes at a crucial time for OpenAI. The company is transitioning to a for-profit subsidiary, a move that has drawn legal challenges from rival Elon Musk. The two tech leaders have been trading jabs on X for some time, even joking about buying each other’s platforms.