Muslim, Arab tech professionals fear retaliation in speaking up: OpenAI CEO

By Faruk Zorlu

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Thursday voiced concerns that Muslim colleagues in the tech industry are hesitant to share their recent experiences, fearing backlash and harm to their careers, referring to the impact of Israel's ongoing war on Gaza.

"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," Altman said on X.

Emphasizing the need for unity within the tech industry to support these colleagues, he said: "Our industry should be united in our support of these colleagues; it is an atrocious time."

"I continue to hope for a real and lasting peace, and that in the meantime we can treat each other with empathy," he added.