Allen & Co. conference. This year’s event is well underway in Sun Valley, Idaho. Like last year and the year before, AI looms large at the annual gathering once known for its array of media. In recent years, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, and Apple’s Tim Cook are among the technology experts who have become returning guests. This year is no different. Outside the luxurious Sun Valley Lodge, founders and CEOs come in and out to be seen, rubbing shoulders with power players from all industries.
Little has been revealed about the retreat’s weeklong agenda or the substance of its many panel discussions. The organizer of the conference, the famous investment firm Allen & Co., allows a group of journalists to photograph the attendees outside the main area, as they wander around the resort. So we are left to read as much as possible from these pictures-especially the group shot and sometimes the absence of familiar faces-to find indications of friendship, competition, complex alliances and possible business alliances.
In Sun Valley this week, Sheryl Sandberg is spotted happily reuniting with former Meta colleague Marne Levine, along with energy tech investor Phil Deutsch; Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, highlighting the power of community, makes small talk with Wendi Murdoch and investor Henry Ellenbogen; Palantir’s Alex Karp appears deep in conversation with Alexandre Arnault, middle son of LVMH chairman Bernard Arnault, on a winding summer road; and Jeff Bezos and his new wife remain inseparable as before.
On the other hand, the CEO of Snap Evan Spiegel and the founder of Notion Ivan Zhao look comfortable walking alone behind the dark shadows, while Sam Altman and the chairman of his board Bret Taylor meet the cameras directly with a relaxed smile, as if they have nothing to hide.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
Sam Altman and Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky
Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky (left) and West Elm designer Carly Helfrich
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy (right)
Palantir CEO Alex Karp
Alex Karp (right) and former Rimowa CEO Alexandre Arnault (left)
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel
Notion Founder and CEO Ivan Zhao
OpenAI chairman and Sierra AI founder Bret Taylor
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and investor Wendi Murdoch
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Henry Ellenbogen, founder of Durable Capital Partners.
LinkedIn founder and Greylock Partners co-founder Reid Hoffman (left)
Alex Norström is the CEO of Spotify
Samsung Electronics chairman Jay Y. Lee (left) and Jinman Han, Samsung Electronics president of Device Solutions Americas
Former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg (right), former Meta chief operating officer Marne Levine (left) and Phil Deutsch, founder of NGP Energy Technology Partners III.
XO Group CEO Mike Steib and his wife, Kemp Steib
