Quick Read
- Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, dropped out of Stanford in 2005 to pursue tech entrepreneurship.
- He admires today’s college dropouts for their unprecedented opportunities in AI-driven industries.
- Soaring education costs and accessible AI tools are encouraging more young people to skip or leave college.
- Industry leaders and venture capitalists are increasingly supportive of younger, non-traditional founders.
Altman’s Unique Perspective: Why He Envies Today’s College Dropouts
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and a former Stanford computer science student, has never been shy about his unconventional path. In a candid interview at the 2025 DevDay conference with Rowan Cheung, Altman revealed a surprising sentiment: envy toward the current generation of college dropouts. This isn’t simply nostalgia for his own journey; it’s a reflection on the massive transformation unfolding in technology and entrepreneurship. He explained, “I’m envious of the current generation of 20-year-old dropouts, because the amount of stuff you can build, the opportunity in this space is so incredibly wide.”
Altman himself left Stanford at age 19, cofounding Loopt, a location-sharing social media app. That leap—at a time when dropping out was still a radical move—set the stage for his later roles as Y Combinator president and ultimately, cofounder of OpenAI. Now, as he leads one of the world’s most influential artificial intelligence companies, Altman looks back at the opportunities available to young founders today with a mix of admiration and curiosity.
How AI and Soaring Education Costs Are Changing the Game
The forces reshaping the landscape are clear. On one hand, higher education costs have soared, with some four-year degrees exceeding half a million dollars. On the other, the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and accessible coding tools are reducing barriers to entry for aspiring entrepreneurs. Altman’s own trajectory illustrates this shift, but the effect is even more pronounced now.
Notably, more young people are opting to skip college or leave early, driven by the promise of building something meaningful in the tech sector. Altman pointed out that he hasn’t had “a real chunk of free mental space in a couple of years to think hard about what I would build,” but he’s convinced that the abundance of possibilities today is unprecedented. The democratization of AI and technical resources means that young founders need less formal education to get started, and more can learn on the fly.
This sentiment is echoed by others in the industry. According to a March blog post from Andreessen Horowitz investors, “The playing field has leveled for younger founders, making it the best time in a decade for dropouts and recent graduates to start a company.” Jared Friedman, a partner at Y Combinator, noted that the percentage of college students and new grads in their startup batches has tripled in recent years. “Because of AI, it’s the best time in a decade for college students to start startups,” Friedman wrote.
Silicon Valley’s Dropout Legacy: Myths, Realities, and Shifting Norms
The idea of the college dropout as an icon isn’t new in Silicon Valley. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Larry Ellison, Jack Dorsey, and Mark Zuckerberg all famously left university behind to pursue their visions. Altman’s story fits neatly into this legacy, but he’s careful not to romanticize it. He acknowledges the unique advantages each founder brings, and he resists offering one-size-fits-all advice. “The advantages should be customized to the startup’s product, technology, and time and place in the industry,” he said at DevDay.
For Altman, the process of building a company is inherently unpredictable. “If you had asked me when we started ChatGPT what our enduring advantages were going to be, I would have said, ‘I have no idea.’” Some features—like ChatGPT’s memory—emerge as durable advantages only after experimentation and iteration. Altman’s advice to new founders is pragmatic: start building, adapt as you go, and don’t worry if you can’t see every advantage from day one.
Today, the myth of the dropout is no longer about rebellion. It’s about pragmatism, resourcefulness, and responding to the realities of a rapidly changing world. Education remains valuable, but the cost-benefit equation is different when technical skills and entrepreneurial resources are so widely available. The Gen Z job crisis, marked by instability and shifting expectations, hasn’t dampened Altman’s optimism for those willing to take risks.
New Paths and Programs: Rethinking Merit and Opportunity
The changing climate isn’t just about individual choices. Institutions and companies are recognizing the value of alternative paths. In April, Palantir launched the Meritocracy Fellowship—a paid, four-month internship for recent high school graduates not enrolled in college. The program reflects a growing belief that merit and ability aren’t confined to traditional educational tracks.
These shifts are influencing not just who becomes an entrepreneur, but how they approach the process. Altman’s journey from Stanford dropout to tech leader is emblematic of the possibilities, but he’s quick to point out that today’s founders have even more tools and less friction. The abundance of AI-powered coding platforms allows for rapid prototyping and iteration, while venture capital firms are increasingly open to backing younger, less credentialed talent.
“There’s a lot of cool stuff to build,” Altman said, summing up the spirit of the moment. The message for young people is clear: if you have the drive and curiosity, the barriers are lower than ever.
The Future: Balancing Risks, Rewards, and Personal Growth
Of course, dropping out isn’t a universal solution, and Altman doesn’t advocate it for everyone. The risks—financial, personal, and professional—are real. Higher education still provides value, especially in fields where deep technical knowledge or specialized training is critical. But for those drawn to entrepreneurship, the calculus has shifted. The intersection of soaring education costs, democratized technology, and a culture open to alternative paths has created a unique moment for ambitious young people.
In the end, Altman’s envy isn’t just about missed opportunities. It’s about the freedom, mental space, and creative energy available to those just starting out. As he reflects on his own journey, Altman encourages today’s dropouts and founders to seize the moment, experiment boldly, and shape their own destinies in a world transformed by AI.
Altman’s reflections highlight a broader truth: the convergence of technology and shifting social norms is redefining what it means to pursue success. The future belongs not to those who follow a single path, but to those who adapt, learn, and create in response to the world’s challenges and opportunities.