In an era increasingly defined by artificial intelligence (AI), OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is surprisingly grounded. Speaking with organizational psychologist Adam Grant on ReThinking, Altman reflected not only on the power of AI, but on the human spirit that must guide its evolution.
“The latest model feels smarter than me in almost every way,” Altman said. “And it doesn’t really impact my life… I can work maybe a lot more effectively.” But for all the technological leaps, Altman believes our most vital values remain unchanged. “Eventually, I think the whole economy transforms… but we always find new jobs — even though every time we stare down a new technology, we assume they’re all going to go away.”
Altman’s view is both pragmatic and visionary. He sees AI not as a replacement for humanity but as a force multiplier. He spoke with optimism about how AI can support breakthroughs, noting how elite scientists have told him the technology is helping them work in fundamentally new ways. Yet he acknowledged a tinge of loss: “When I think about AI taking that over… I do feel some sadness.”
Still, Altman’s confidence in humanity runs deep. He said people will continue to care about other people, not machines, because of something “very deep in our biology.” Even as AI grows more powerful, he suspects we won’t measure our worth by its capabilities.
Asked why he remains committed to building AI, Altman replied: “I am a techno-optimist and science nerd… [but] I feel a sense of duty to scientific progress… to contribute in whatever way.” For Altman, the future of AI isn’t just about engineering — it’s about ensuring we remain at the center of the story.
Featured image: Credit: TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco 2019 — Day 2Author, TechCrunch, Wikipedia
