Sam Altman: Future Jobs Will Seem ‘Sillier’ Like Farming vs. Podcasting
▼ Summary
– OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes society will adapt to AI-driven career changes, citing historical examples like the rise of “podcast bro” as new jobs.
– Altman compares current jobs to subsistence farming, suggesting future roles may seem trivial by today’s standards but will still hold value.
– Data shows AI is already replacing jobs, with companies like Shopify and Duolingo questioning the need for new roles AI could fill.
– Altman remains optimistic about human adaptability, noting people consistently find new ways to be useful and create status games.
– He predicts the next generation will seamlessly integrate AI into their lives, viewing smarter computers as normal and leveraging them effectively.
The workforce is undergoing a radical transformation as AI reshapes industries, but OpenAI CEO Sam Altman remains optimistic about society’s ability to adapt. Drawing parallels between past and present, he suggests future careers might appear as unconventional to us as modern jobs would seem to subsistence farmers centuries ago.
During a conversation on his brother Jack Altman’s Uncapped podcast, Sam playfully compared today’s content creators to historical laborers. “A subsistence farmer wouldn’t recognize podcasting as work, just like future generations may view many of today’s jobs as obsolete or even absurd,” he remarked. Jack, founder of VC firm Alt Capital, countered with humor, suggesting their ancestors might still be loyal listeners.
The discussion covered broader AI implications, including Meta’s competitive stance (which Sam dismissed as lacking innovation) and the societal impact of automation. Recent data supports the shift, companies like Shopify and Duolingo are already questioning whether new roles could be AI-driven, while research shows a 19% decline in tasks requiring exclusively human skills. Customer service positions, Jack noted, are among the first to be affected.
Despite these disruptions, Sam remains confident in humanity’s resilience. “We’ve consistently invented new ways to contribute, compete, and connect,” he said, emphasizing that creativity and adaptability won’t disappear. For younger generations, AI’s dominance will simply be the norm. His own son, he mused, will grow up fluent in leveraging AI to achieve what seems impossible today.
The key takeaway? Change is inevitable, but history suggests we’ll find innovative ways to thrive, even if the jobs of tomorrow defy current expectations.
(Source: Business Insider)
