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Software developer Iain Kay has created a Linux script that automatically emails OpenAI CEO Sam Altman about unused computer memory, responding to his recent remarks questioning the efficiency of personal computers retaining large amounts of underutilised RAM.
The project, named Ram-Altman and published on GitHub, monitors a computer’s memory usage every five minutes and can send an automated email reporting the amount of unused RAM. The message is triggered when more than 10% of the system’s memory is available, with emails limited to once a day.
Kay developed the script as a satirical response to Altman’s comments about the growing demand for computer memory in artificial intelligence infrastructure, which prompted criticism from internet users.
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How Does the Ram-Altman Script Work?
Ram-Altman is designed to monitor memory usage on computers running Linux and automatically generate email reports about unused RAM.
The script checks the system’s available memory every five minutes. If more than 10% of the installed RAM remains unused, it can send an email to Altman detailing the available capacity.
To avoid sending identical messages repeatedly, the project includes eight subject lines, ten message variations and six different sign-offs.
An example published on GitHub uses the subject line “You missed a spot” and reports that 8.6 GB of RAM is sitting outside a data centre without any immediate use.
The project is publicly available on GitHub, allowing users to download and configure the script.
Users must set up an email account through which the automated messages can be sent. Once configured, the software monitors memory usage and generates a report when the specified threshold is met.
The script is intended for Linux systems. Windows users can run it through the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), while macOS is not directly supported.
The project followed Altman’s remarks during an episode of the Cheeky Pint podcast, where he discussed the availability and utilisation of computer memory.
The OpenAI chief executive questioned the efficiency of large amounts of DRAM remaining inside personal computers while demand for memory continues to grow alongside AI development.
He suggested that much of the world’s limited memory capacity was installed in personal devices that used only a small proportion of it at any given time.
His comments attracted criticism online, particularly amid rising RAM prices that have made computer upgrades more expensive for consumers.
Some internet users challenged the argument by drawing comparisons with other resources that remain unused for significant periods.
One Reddit user questioned whether the same reasoning could be applied to wealthy individuals owning multiple homes, while another suggested examining unused assets held by billionaires.
Kay’s Ram-Altman project turns that criticism into a software-based joke by allowing computer owners to report their unused memory directly to the OpenAI CEO.
GitHub Project Turns AI Memory Debate Into Online Satire
The Ram-Altman project reflects the wider public discussion about the growing hardware requirements of artificial intelligence and their effect on consumer technology.
AI development requires substantial computing infrastructure, including processors and memory used to train and operate advanced models.
At the same time, consumers rely on RAM for everyday computing activities, making the allocation and availability of memory a subject of debate.
Kay’s script does not redistribute unused memory or make it available to AI infrastructure. Its purpose is to generate automated messages drawing attention to Altman’s comments.
The project uses simple memory monitoring and email automation to make a satirical point about how technology companies and consumers view hardware utilisation.
By publishing the script on GitHub, Kay has made it possible for other users to participate in the joke using their own computers.
The episode illustrates how remarks about AI infrastructure and resource allocation can prompt responses from the developer community, including software projects designed primarily as commentary rather than practical computing tools.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.