Open AI CEO Sam Altman, whose company is behind the popular ChatGPT bot, has refused to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel this week, according to Hebrew media reports.
Update: An Open AI spokesperson denied the reports later Sunday, saying no meeting had been requested by Netanyahu.
Citing sources familiar with the matter, the Ynet news site and Channel 12 news said Netanyahu’s office tried to coordinate a meeting with Altman, but he rebuffed them in protest of the government’s judicial overhaul plans.
“There was never a meeting request from the PM,” a spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said in response.
Altman, who is Jewish, is slated to meet with President Isaac Herzog, tour the local offices of Microsoft and participate in an event at Tel Aviv University while in Israel.
Is The Times of Israel important to you?
If so, we have a request.
Every day, even during war, our journalists keep you abreast of the most important developments that merit your attention. Millions of people rely on ToI for fast, fair and free coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
We care about Israel - and we know you do too. So today, we have an ask: show your appreciation for our work by joining The Times of Israel Community, an exclusive group for readers like you who appreciate and financially support our work.
Yes, I'll give
Yes, I'll give
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this
You appreciate our journalism
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
You clearly find our careful reporting valuable, in a time when facts are often distorted and news coverage often lacks context.
Your support is essential to continue our work. We want to continue delivering the professional journalism you value, even as the demands on our newsroom have grown dramatically since October 7.
So today, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you'll become our partners while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you,
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
Join Our Community
Join Our Community
Already a member? Sign in to stop seeing this