Sam Altman says he was initially wrong about AI — and he's 'delighted' it hasn't unleashed a 'job apocalypse' after all. Why his stance has shifted

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has revised his earlier warnings about AI eliminating large numbers of jobs, calling his past predictions 'pretty wrong' in an interview with Commonwealth Bank of Australia CEO Matt Comyn. In a 2023 podcast appearance, Altman had forecast that 'a lot of jobs would go away' due to AI advancements, but he now says the technology has had less impact on entry-level white-collar roles than anticipated. Altman acknowledged that his initial concerns stemmed from a genuine belief in AI’s disruptive potential, though he now understands why job losses haven’t materialized as feared. He noted that human interaction remains irreplaceable, even in tasks like email and Slack responses, where he personally prefers authenticity over AI-generated replies. The shift in perspective may also align with OpenAI’s upcoming confidential IPO filing, expected to raise $60 billion or more, which could benefit from a less alarmist narrative around AI’s workforce impact. Altman’s change of heart mirrors that of other AI leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, who previously warned of 50% white-collar job losses but now suggests AI may expand work opportunities. Despite these softened warnings, AI continues to be cited as a reason for mass layoffs, such as Meta’s recent 8,000-worker reduction. Altman’s evolving views highlight the ongoing debate over AI’s economic consequences, with some arguing the technology’s integration has been slower than predicted due to human-centric workplace needs.