SYDNEY, Australia: OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman has said that rapid adoption of artificial intelligence will not lead to widespread job losses, pushing back against growing fears that the technology could displace millions of workers.
Speaking via video link at a conference in Sydney, Altman said he and his team at OpenAI had previously made accurate technical predictions about their technology, but were wrong about its broader social and economic impact.
He said he had once been concerned that AI could lead to a global unemployment crisis, but recent developments suggest otherwise.
“I’m glad we were wrong about that,” Altman said, referring to earlier expectations that entry-level jobs would be most affected.
Altman noted that while AI is increasingly being used across industries, it is still far from replacing human interaction and decision-making.
He said he often uses AI tools for tasks such as drafting emails and messages, but still prefers to respond personally in many cases.
“We value human interaction, and I cannot imagine AI replacing that very soon,” he said.
The OpenAI chief said he believes many jobs will continue to require human communication and judgment, adding that AI is more likely to augment rather than replace workers.
While he did not provide specific employment figures, recent months have seen layoffs in parts of the technology sector amid growing automation and AI-driven efficiencies.
More read, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns of AI investment bubble despite industry’s explosive growth
Earlier, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has warned that the artificial intelligence market may be entering a bubble, likening the current frenzy around AI to the dot-com boom of the late 1990s.
In comments reported by The Verge on Friday, Altman said, “Are we in a phase where investors as a whole are overexcited about AI? My opinion is yes. Is AI the most important thing to happen in a very long time? My opinion is also yes.”
Altman’s comments come amid record-breaking investment activity in the AI sector, including OpenAI’s own explosive valuation growth. The company is reportedly preparing to sell $6 billion in stock in a secondary sale, potentially valuing it at $500 billion—up from a $300 billion valuation just seven months ago.
