OpenAI’s Sam Altman says human-level AI is coming but will change world much less than we think

At the Hope Global Forums annual meeting in Atlanta, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed concerns about the potential disruptive impact of artificial general intelligence (AGI) on the world and jobs. He expressed his belief that AGI will change the world and jobs much less than anticipated, and suggested that it could be developed in the near future. Altman has been trying to temper concerns from AI skeptics about the extent to which the technology will reshape society.

Founded in 2015, OpenAI aims to achieve AGI and is backed by Microsoft with a private market valuation approaching $100 billion. The company is committed to designing AI technology safely. Concerns about AI safety and OpenAI’s role in protecting it were central to Altman’s brief ouster from the company in November. However, he was swiftly reinstated as CEO following backlash from employees and investors, with Microsoft gaining a nonvoting board observer seat at OpenAI.

Altman addressed concerns about AI exacerbating economic inequalities and displacing the working class, acknowledging the need to consider these issues. Nevertheless, he emphasized that AI is not yet replacing jobs at the scale many economists fear. He also highlighted the technology’s potential as an “incredible tool for productivity.” Altman’s perspective on the role of AI in the workforce indicated a more cautious and measured approach than popular fears about widespread job displacement.