OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes that artificial intelligence (AI) will bring about a huge change in the job market, although not as quickly or as drastically as some fear. In a recent blog post, Altman shared that AI could significantly change labor markets, both positively and negatively, but he does not expect a sudden loss of jobs. “Most jobs will change more slowly than most people think, and I have no fear that we will run out of work to do,” he explains. He emphasizes that while AI will replace some tasks, it will enable humans to focus on more creative and meaningful work, increasing our capabilities.

Altman suggests that many of the jobs people do today would have seemed trivial to people a hundred years ago. In the same way, future generations may see our current work as outdated or unnecessary. However, just as people have adjusted to technological changes in the past, he believes society will adjust to the changes AI will bring. “People have an innate desire to create and be useful to each other,” says Altman, “and AI will help us find new ways to contribute.”

Looking beyond jobs, Altman paints a broader picture of how AI will transform society. He expects AI to enable humanity to achieve things once thought impossible. He envisions a future where AI will assist in everything from healthcare to education, offering “virtual tutors who can provide personalized instruction in any subject, in any language, and at whatever pace they need.” He also predicts that AI will help solve global challenges like climate change and scientific discoveries.
Altman is particularly excited about the potential for shared prosperity in an AI-powered future. He believes that with AI, “everyone’s life can be better than anybody’s life.” However, he warns that the benefits of AI must be carefully managed to avoid inequalities. A key issue is to ensure that AI and the computing power needed to run it are accessible to everyone, not just the rich. “If we don’t build adequate infrastructure, AI will be a very limited resource that wars will be fought over,” he warns.

Central to Altman’s view is the idea that AI is already showing remarkable results thanks to advances in deep learning. He attributes this progress to pushing the boundaries of AI, enabling it to solve increasingly complex problems. “Deep learning worked, got predictably better with scale, and we devoted increasing resources to it,” he says, adding that this development could become one of the most important in human history.

Altman is confident that AI will continue to improve and become more capable, leading to breakthroughs that were once considered science fiction. From creating new kinds of software to improving healthcare systems, he believes AI’s potential is nearly limitless. However, he acknowledges that the journey to the “intelligence age” will not be without challenges. He calls for careful consideration and planning to maximize AI’s benefits while also addressing its risks, particularly the social and economic changes it may bring.

Altman’s message is one of cautious optimism. He sees AI as a tool that can enhance human potential and bring unprecedented prosperity, but only if society takes active steps to manage its risks and ensure its benefits are widely shared.