Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, and partner Oliver Mulherin have recently welcomed their boy to the world. The February 2025 premature birth is a celebratory chapter in their life. The celebratory time, however, hasn’t passed unnoticed, and in general, their decision to have children through surrogacy.
Altman made the announcement in the early hours of February 23 on social media platform X, posting an adorable photo of their newborn’s tiny hands. The couple’s baby arrived earlier than expected and will stay in the hospital’s NICU for some time. Altman’s heartfelt post read,
“Welcome to the world, little guy! He came early and is going to be in the NICU for a while. He is doing well, and it’s really nice to be in a little bubble taking care of him. I have never felt such love.”
But not everyone’s reaction to the pregnancy was positive. An increase in mixed reactions did appear on the web, but only in individual social media communities and web communities. The participants did ask questions concerning the mystery surrounding the surrogate pregnancy, including who is the surrogate and if there is any biological aspect to the pregnancy. These questions did pick up to some degree, but certainly weren’t in keeping with the overall thread, and stayed largely celebratory.
Sam Altman and Oliver Mulherin have kept their time together under wraps for the most part. The two wed in an intimate coastal ceremony sometime between late 2023 and early 2024. Photographs of their low-key but stylish ring exchange made their way onto social media in no time, giving rise to gossip and admiration.
Altman confirmed their matrimony soon after their pictures reached everywhere in the world. In an earlier interview in 2023 to New York Magazine, he made their future plans to have children clear. The arrival of their baby, though premature, is where their dream is born.
Despite their celebrity status, Altman and Mulherin have kept low profiles in their personal life, only showing up in occasional events, such as the U.S. State Dinner for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2023. Their low profile for their celebrity life makes their recent revelation surprising and impactful.
Altman and Mulherin’s journey wasn’t always smooth sailing. Surrogacy, while such a beautiful option for so many families, is no cakewalk. From medical issues of IVF treatments to psychological stress of procedure, the two likely rode an emotional rollercoaster.
The premature birth of their boy boy only made their list longer. The premature birth traditionally implies lengthy hospital stays in neonatal intensive care facilities (NICU) for such kids, thanks to health ailments such as low birth weight and respiratory ailments. Despite such ailments, Altman’s sentimental post signaled strong emotional attachment and gratitude for the medical attention and care accorded to them.
With his recent elevation to parent, everyone is wondering how Altman is going to handle parenting and running OpenAI, especially through such a tumultuous time for the organization. OpenAI is in the middle of becoming for-profit, and leadership structures are sure to alter.
The tech world’s reaction to Altman’s announcement was universally congratulatory. Social networking sites were flooded by thousands of congratulatory messages. Public figures dwelled on keeping up good work-life balance and expressed their personal opinion on having children.
For now, Sam Altman and Oliver Mulherin are soaking up their life as parents, focusing on their baby boy’s health and welfare. Despite web gossip, their story is one of strength, optimism, and love—a reminder to everyone that giants in the tech industry have stories and feelings, and their stories inspire and hold us together.
