OpenAI CEO Speaks Out Against Islamophobia in Tech Industry
In a social media post, Altman said he had talked to his Muslim and Arab colleagues, particularly Palestinians, who told him they were afraid to voice their opinions on the current events, fearing backlash and career damage.
"Muslim and arab (especially palestinian) colleagues in the tech community i've spoken with feel uncomfortable speaking about their recent experiences, often out of fear of retaliation and damaged career prospects," he wrote on Friday.
Altman, who is Jewish, urged the tech community to stand in solidarity with these colleagues and show empathy.
He thanked those who had supported him amid reports of increased antisemitism, however, he noted that he saw less support for Muslims in the industry.
Altman's post came as the Council on American-Islamic Relations reported a surge of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian incidents in the U.S. since the start of the war. According to the group, there were 2,171 complaints in December, a 172% increase from previous years.
Source: Agencies
