As artificial intelligence (AI) races ahead, its transformative power is no longer a distant vision but a rapidly approaching reality. On September 28, 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stood before a crowd at the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network in Berlin to accept the Axel Springer Award—and delivered a message that reverberated far beyond the event’s walls. According to Altman, by 2030, humanity could witness the dawn of “superintelligence”—a form of AI that surpasses human intellect in virtually every domain. This seismic shift, he warned, will not merely change how we work but fundamentally reshape the very fabric of society.
Altman’s predictions are not just bold—they’re urgent. He told the audience, “I would certainly say by the end of this decade, so, by 2030, if we don’t have models that are extraordinarily capable and do things that we ourselves cannot do, I’d be very surprised.” As reported by the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network, Altman believes that AI is advancing so quickly that soon, models like GPT-5 will not only outperform humans in many tasks, but will also accomplish feats we can’t even imagine today. “In another couple of years, it will become very plausible for AI to make, for example, scientific discoveries that humans cannot make on their own. To me, that’ll start to feel like something we could properly call superintelligence,” he said.
What does this mean for the average worker? The numbers are staggering. Altman estimates that AI could automate 30-40% of tasks currently performed across the global economy. “I can easily imagine a world where 30-40% of the tasks that happen in the economy today get done by AI in the not very distant future,” he stated, according to the Axel Springer Global Reporters Network. This isn’t just theoretical. Customer support jobs—especially those conducted over the phone or computer—are among the first in line for automation. On The Tucker Carlson Show, Altman did not mince words: “I’m confident that a lot of current customer support that happens over a phone or computer, those people will lose their jobs, and that’ll be better done by an AI.”
But it’s not only customer service that’s on the chopping block. The future of programming, once considered a safe haven in the digital age, is now uncertain. Altman confessed, “A job that I feel way less certain about what the future looks like for is computer programmers. The meaning of being a computer programmer today is very different than it was two years ago. You’re able to use these AI tools to be hugely more productive.” While AI can turbocharge productivity, it also blurs the boundaries of what it means to be a professional in fields once thought immune to automation.
For Altman, the conversation isn’t solely about which jobs will vanish, but rather how the very nature of work will evolve. He encourages a shift in perspective: “The thing that I find useful is to think about the percentage of tasks, not the percentage of jobs. There will be many jobs where a lot of what it means to do that job change. AI can do things much better. It can free up people to do more and different things. There will, of course, be totally new jobs.” In other words, while entire job profiles may disappear, countless new opportunities—some unimaginable today—will emerge from the technological upheaval.
Yet, amid this whirlwind of change, certain human qualities remain irreplaceable. Altman is adamant that skills like empathy, creativity, and the ability to connect with others are beyond the reach of even the most sophisticated AI. As he put it, “I’m so confident that people will still be the center of the story for each other. I’m also so confident that human desire for new stuff, desire to be useful to other people, desire to express our creativity, I think this is all limitless. Each new generation uses their creativity and new ideas and the tools the previous generation built for them to astonish us. And I’m sure my kids will do the same.”
Altman’s recent experience of becoming a father has only deepened his conviction about the importance of adaptability and lifelong learning. He emphasized, “The meta-skill of learning how to learn, of learning to adapt, learning to be resilient to a lot of change. Learning how to figure out what people want, how to make useful products and services for them, how to interact in the world.” In a future where AI handles routine tasks, the ability to pivot, to learn, and to persevere will be the keys to thriving.
But not everyone is reassured. Some researchers have voiced concerns that an artificial general intelligence (AGI) could one day treat humanity with indifference, much as humans treat ants. Altman directly addressed these fears, referencing his co-founder Ilya Sutskever’s hope that AGI would treat humanity “like a loving parent.” Altman elaborated: “Even if it has no intentionality, by asking it to do something, there could be side effects, consequences we don’t understand. And so it is very important that we align this tool to human values. But we get to align this tool to human values and I don’t think it’ll treat humans like ants. Let’s say that.”
With such immense power on the horizon, the question of regulation looms large. Altman has repeatedly underscored the importance of ethical considerations and the role of thoughtful regulation to guide AI’s development. While he remains optimistic about the benefits AI can bring, he is clear-eyed about the risks. The challenge, he argues, is to harness AI’s capabilities for the common good while ensuring it operates within boundaries that reflect human values.
For workers, business leaders, and policymakers alike, the message is clear: change is inevitable, but preparation is possible. Understanding which tasks can be automated, learning to adapt, and cultivating skills that complement AI will define the careers of tomorrow. Altman’s blend of caution and optimism suggests that while AI could replace up to 40% of tasks, it also offers the tools for a new era of human productivity and creativity. The coming years will test assumptions about work, skill, and ingenuity, but they will also reward those who embrace learning and adaptability.
As the world stands on the edge of a technological revolution, Altman’s vision is both a warning and a call to action. The future he describes is not one of obsolescence, but of transformation—a future where those willing to learn, adapt, and create will continue to shape the story of humanity, even as the machines grow smarter by the day.
