Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said at an Australian conference on Tuesday that artificial intelligence has so far eliminated far fewer jobs than he and others had feared. According to a Reuters report, Altman noted that when ChatGPT was launched in 2022 he and his colleagues expected a much larger impact on employment than what has actually occurred.
Altman stated, “Artificial intelligence has so far destroyed far fewer jobs than I thought,” and added: “We were pretty wrong about the social and economic consequences. I’m glad I was wrong. I thought many more office jobs might have disappeared by now because of AI than we actually see.”
He also emphasized that although AI is playing an increasingly active role across industries and roles, the “human part” of work cannot be completely replaced. He reflected on earlier public warnings about AI risks, saying, “Many people said we could have spared a lot of fear and worrying if we hadn’t communicated about these dangers. At the time I saw it as a real risk we needed to talk about. And it still might be.”
Reuters also reminded readers that OpenAI could proceed with a public listing in the coming weeks, a potential IPO that might raise up to $60 billion in capital. Altman’s comments add context to ongoing debates about AI’s effects on employment, regulation, and the social implications of rapid technological change.
Why this matters
- Altman’s remarks feed into broader discussions about AI’s economic and social impact.
- His acknowledgement that the human dimensions of work remain important may shape corporate strategies and public policy on retraining and regulation.
- OpenAI’s potential IPO and the scale of possible fundraising are relevant to the company’s future direction and the development of the AI industry.
Further details of the remarks were reported by Reuters.
