New Delhi, Jan 24: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has made a striking observation about the future, asserting, “My kid is never gonna grow up being smarter than AI.” The comment came during the January 6 episode of the Re:Thinking podcast with Adam Grant, where Altman discussed the profound impact of artificial intelligence on society and the global economy.
Altman, who is expecting a child soon, noted that the next generation will grow up in a world where AI’s intelligence surpasses human capabilities. “And that’ll be natural,” he said. “Of course it’s smarter than us. Of course, it can do things we can’t, but also, who really cares? I think it’s only weird for us in this one transition time.”
Workforce Transformation
Altman predicts that AI will trigger a complete transformation of the global economy. “Eventually, I think the whole economy transforms,” he said, acknowledging that while some jobs may disappear, humanity has always adapted. “We always find new jobs, even though every time we stare at a new technology, we assume they’re all going to go away.”
Rather than rendering human work obsolete, Altman believes AI will shift the focus toward more meaningful and creative roles. “Ability will still be valued,” he noted, but added that intellectual horsepower will become less important. Instead, asking the right questions will take precedence.
Agentic AI: The New Digital Workforce
Altman discussed the rise of agentic AI, which he described as capable of performing complex tasks autonomously. “Not like we can go give them a task where they program for three hours, but where we can have them go off and do something very complicated that would normally require a whole organisation over many years,” he said.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang echoed these sentiments at CES 2025, calling agentic AI the next big wave in technology and predicting it will become a multitrillion-dollar industry. “AI agents are the new digital workforce,” Huang said.
Advancements in AI Tools
OpenAI has already begun integrating AI into everyday tasks. It recently launched a feature called ‘Tasks’ on ChatGPT, allowing users to create reminders and summaries. According to Bloomberg, the company plans to release an advanced tool called ‘Operator’ later this month, which will be capable of writing code and booking travel.
Altman’s remarks underscore the growing role of AI in shaping the future, not just in technological advancements but also in redefining societal norms and economic landscapes.
