OpenAI's Altman Says He's No Longer a Democrat

The Microsoft MSFT-backed OpenAI boss, once comfortable in the Democratic tent, now feels the party has drifted so far that it no longer reflects his views. Instead, Sam Altman proposes what he dubs techno-capitalism: let people chase big paydays, but also build systems that spread that wealth far and wide.

As he put it, you can't keep the floor up without also raising the ceilingboth sides matter.Altman's timing wasn't an accident.

His comments echo a growing rift in Silicon Valley over how to balance innovation, inequality and regulation.

He even took a swipe at voices like New York mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani, who says billionaires simply shouldn't exist.

Altman argues we need the energy that comes from rewarding successand then figure out smart ways to share the gains.

What's next? Tech leaders' political leanings can shape everything from AI rules in Washington to public trust in their products.

By stepping away from a major party, Altman is staking out new groundone that champions entrepreneurial drive but insists on broader social benefits. Whether investors, policymakers or the public buy into his techno-capitalism experiment remains to be seen.