Overview

• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has spoken out about the fear of retaliation that Muslim and Arab tech workers, particularly Palestinians, are experiencing when expressing their views on the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
• Altman, who is Jewish, has noted that while antisemitism is a significant and growing issue, he sees more support for Jewish individuals in the tech industry than for Muslims.
• Reports indicate a sharp rise in both antisemitism and Islamophobia in the U.S. and globally since the start of the conflict in October, with advocacy groups recording significant increases in incidents.
• Altman's comments follow controversy within OpenAI, with the Head of Research Platform, Tal Broda, apologizing for posts supporting Israel's bombardment of Gaza.
• Altman's call for unity and empathy in the tech industry comes as tech companies struggle to manage employee discussions about the Israel-Gaza conflict.