OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has once again ignited global debate about the future of work and artificial intelligence, setting out a vision that is as optimistic as it is cautionary. On September 27, 2025, after receiving the prestigious Axel Springer Award, Altman spoke candidly about the extraordinary pace of AI development, the looming arrival of superintelligence by 2030, and the profound changes these technologies could bring to the workforce, politics, and society at large.
Altman’s remarks, reported across multiple outlets including Mathrubhumi, OneIndia, and Techlusive, painted a picture of a world on the cusp of transformation. He predicted that artificial intelligence could soon automate up to 40 percent of the tasks currently performed by humans, a shift that could disrupt millions of jobs but also usher in new forms of work. "GPT-5 is already smarter than me and many others," Altman admitted, highlighting just how steep the learning curve for AI has become. While AI still struggles with some tasks that come naturally to people, he emphasized, "by the end of this decade, if we don’t have extraordinarily capable models that do things humans cannot, I’d be very surprised."
What does this mean for the average worker? Altman was clear that the conversation should focus on tasks, not entire professions. According to Die Welt, he explained, "I can easily imagine a world where 30 or 40 percent of the tasks that happen in the economy today get done by AI in the not very distant future." While some jobs may indeed disappear as AI systems advance, Altman believes new roles will emerge, requiring people to adapt and develop what he calls the "meta-skill of learning how to learn." In his words, adaptability, creativity, and resilience will be the most valuable skills in an AI-driven world—a message he says he hopes to pass on to his own son.
Still, the prospect of losing a significant portion of current tasks to automation is understandably unsettling. Altman acknowledged the risk of large-scale layoffs but pushed back against the most extreme fears. He dismissed the notion that superintelligence would treat humans like "ants," as some researchers have suggested. Instead, Altman argued that artificial intelligence is fundamentally a tool without intent. The real challenge, he said, is to ensure AI is aligned with human values, warning, "Even if it has no intentionality, asking it to do something could have consequences we don’t understand. So alignment is critical."
Altman’s focus on alignment echoes the sentiments of AI pioneers like Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun, who have called for the development of AI systems with "maternal instincts"—essentially, systems that care about humanity. As Altman put it, AGI (artificial general intelligence) should treat people like a "loving parent," not an indifferent overseer. But he is also realistic about the risks: "There will likely be consequences we don’t understand," he warned, making ethical AI development not just important, but essential.
Beyond software, OpenAI is also exploring new frontiers in hardware. Altman revealed that the company, after hiring a former Apple designer, is working on a "small family of devices" intended to revolutionize how people interact with technology. These devices, he said, could move users beyond the world of apps and notifications, enabling fully AI-driven task management. Altman described this as the "third great shift in computing," following the keyboard-mouse era and the rise of touchscreens. The goal: to streamline complex tasks and make technology more accessible without overwhelming users.
The implications of these advances extend far beyond the workplace. Altman noted that politicians and policymakers will increasingly rely on AI for decision-making, though he believes humans will remain in charge of major calls—at least for now. "Politicians will increasingly use AI for decision-making while humans retain control over major decisions," he suggested, hinting at a future where AI augments rather than replaces human judgment in governance.
As for the broader economy and society, Altman’s outlook is both sobering and hopeful. He foresees AI redefining industries, reshaping daily life, and transforming work at a pace humanity has never before witnessed. "The coming years could redefine industries, reshape daily life, and transform work at a pace humanity has never witnessed," Altman concluded, as reported by OneIndia. Yet, he insisted that OpenAI’s priority remains keeping AI safe, ethical, and centered on human needs. The company’s mission, he said, is to push the boundaries of technology while ensuring that the benefits are widely shared and the risks carefully managed.
Altman’s reflections on parenting in an AI-driven world brought a personal dimension to his predictions. He wants his own son to grow up with the skills necessary to thrive amid rapid technological change—creativity, resilience, and, above all, adaptability. These, he believes, will be the defining qualities of the next generation of workers, leaders, and citizens.
Of course, the path to superintelligence is not without its skeptics and challenges. Some worry about the potential for mass unemployment, ethical dilemmas, and unintended consequences that could arise from unchecked AI development. Altman himself acknowledged these anxieties, emphasizing that the real risk lies not in AI’s intent, but in its alignment with human values and the unpredictability of its impact. "Alignment is critical," he reiterated, underscoring the need for careful oversight and robust ethical frameworks as AI systems become more capable.
In a world where AI could soon handle up to 40 percent of the tasks that drive today’s economy, the stakes could hardly be higher. The next five years, Altman suggests, will be crucial in determining whether society can harness the transformative power of artificial intelligence for the benefit of all—or whether it will be caught off guard by changes it failed to anticipate.
One thing is certain: the conversation about AI’s role in the future of work, politics, and daily life is only just beginning. As Altman and OpenAI continue to push the envelope, the world will be watching—eager, anxious, and, above all, determined to shape a future where technology serves humanity, not the other way around.
