OpenAI CEO’s Startup Demands Weekend Work From Employees
Tools for Humanity, the crypto startup co-founded by Sam Altman, is facing scrutiny after CEO Alex Blania instructed employees to work weekends and prioritize the company mission above all else.
Key Takeaways
- CEO Alex Blania mandated weekend work in internal January meeting
- Employees told to care “nothing else” but company mission
- Company rejects DEI, politics in favor of “merit, performance, excellence”
- Work culture described as “always on call” with “no time for slowness”
The Weekend Work Ultimatum
During a January staff meeting, Blania delivered a blunt message to employees of the Worldcoin digital identity project. According to Business Insider, he issued a clear ultimatum about working weekends and singular focus on company goals.
“We will neither fail, nor will we be an average outcome, and that’s what we want, and that’s all I care about every day and all you should care about every day, and nothing else should matter,” Blania said in a recording.
He followed with an even starker warning for dissenters: “If you should care about something else… you should just not be here. It’s as simple as that.”
Company Culture and Values
The startup explicitly rejects non-work concerns, with Blania stating they don’t care about “politics” or “DEI” (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), focusing instead on “merit, performance, and excellence.”
Internal company values displayed at their office reinforce this intense environment, declaring employees are “always on call” and have “no time for slowness and comfort.”
Justifying the Demands
Tools for Humanity defends its extreme expectations by framing its work as critical to humanity’s future. The company’s flagship project involves building a global digital identity system using its metallic Orb that scans users’ irises to verify they’re human.
This “proof of personhood” system is designed to counter the threat of AI-generated deepfakes. A company spokesperson confirmed they’re transparent about their values, stating this clarity is necessary for their “increasingly urgent mission of ensuring every human benefits from the age of AI.”
