In 2017, Altman straight up lied to US officials that China had launched an "AGI Manhattan Project". He claimed he needed billions in government funding to keep pace. An intelligence official concluded: "It was just being used as a sales pitch."

A recent investigative report by Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz published in The New Yorker suggests that Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, misled U.S. officials in 2017 regarding the existence of a Chinese initiative dubbed the 'AGI Manhattan Project.' Altman allegedly claimed that this project necessitated billions in government funding to ensure that the United States could maintain its competitive edge in artificial intelligence. However, sources within the intelligence community have since concluded that these statements were likely exaggerated and used as a sales pitch to garner financial support for OpenAI's initiatives.

The implications of Altman's assertions are significant, particularly in the context of the ongoing race for AI supremacy between the U.S. and China. The investigation raises ethical questions about the veracity of claims made by tech leaders to secure funding and influence policy. It also underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, where the stakes are high and the potential for misinformation could have serious consequences for national security and innovation strategies.