Sam Altman Predicts AI Will Automate 40% of Work, Admits GPT-5 Outshines Him

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman: GPT-5 Already Outpaces Humans, 40% of Work Could Soon Be Automated.

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has reignited the debate on artificial intelligence and jobs, suggesting that AI could soon automate a significant share of human work.

Speaking after receiving the Axel Springer Award, Altman reflected on the pace of progress, remarking, “In many ways, GPT-5 is already smarter than me, and I think a lot of other people too,” according to Business Insider.

While acknowledging that AI still falters at simple human tasks, he noted its development curve was “extremely steep.” By 2030, Altman predicted, AI models may handle tasks beyond human capability, including groundbreaking scientific discoveries. “To me, that’ll start to feel like something we could properly call superintelligence,” he said.

The OpenAI CEO warned this transformation could reshape the labor market. Rather than eliminating jobs outright, he expects AI to automate 30–40% of current tasks across industries. “The future of work will depend on adaptability,” he added, urging people to build “the meta-skill of learning how to learn.”

Altman dismissed fears that AI could render humans obsolete, stressing that aligning AI systems with human values is critical. “I don’t think it’ll treat humans like ants,” he said. He also hinted at OpenAI’s hardware ambitions, confirming the company is collaborating with a former Apple designer on a “small family of devices” intended to change how people interact with computers.

Despite his optimism, Altman admitted he doesn’t rely on AI for everything. Asked about using it for relationship advice, he laughed: “I’ve tried it, but no, that’s not one of my big personal use cases.” Through it all, he insisted AI should augment rather than replace humanity.