In the Forbes cover interview 'AI Alchemist: Why Sam Altman Is Ready to Make the Biggest Business Bet in History,' it is mentioned that Sam Altman grew up in St. Louis, far from Silicon Valley. Since childhood, he has been obsessed with science, energy, and artificial intelligence, and is a typical nerd. Altman stated that he has been fixated on a few ideas throughout his life, and these ideas have not changed since he was around 18 years old.
