The head of a buzzy AI company has serious concerns about how the technology could impact jobs. Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, spoke out about the future of AI at a congressional hearing on Tuesday, noting that many people are afraid it will take away their jobs. However, he believes that while it will have some adverse effects on the job market, it will also create more opportunities for workers.
While he was speaking, lawmakers expressed their concerns about the impact of AI on society and employment. Altman responded that he thinks it will be a “good thing,” adding that he doesn’t believe that the technology will replace humans but augment them and help them become more productive. He said he sees technology as an assistant that can help employees focus on more critical tasks, leading to more business productivity and growth. He also added that he believes AI will allow companies to offer better services to their customers, which will benefit everybody.
Altman has been a central figure in the tech industry for years, having served as the famed startup accelerator Y Combinator president from 2014 until his departure to cofound OpenAI. He has stakes in many successful companies, including Airbnb, Reddit, and Stripe. In addition, he is a vocal supporter of progressive politics, hosting fundraisers at his home for Democratic candidates.
As for the future of AI, he says that many things need to be considered. He stresses that it is essential to have caution and regulation as technology progresses. He argues that it’s necessary to have experts in the field who can monitor the development of AI and acknowledge its advancements and limitations to mitigate any potential negative consequences on society and employment.
He says that he is constantly asked about the effect of AI on jobs, but he thinks it will be better than people fear. He adds that AI will make jobs safer and more accessible but won’t replace human employees. He also points out that developing safe and trustworthy AI will be possible, which is crucial for humanity’s future.
Another witness at the hearing, IBM chief privacy and trust officer Christina Montgomery echoed this point, saying that she doesn’t think AI will take over jobs. Still, it will make existing jobs more efficient and effective, which will help to increase productivity.
It is important to note that despite these positive assertions, many other prominent voices have warned of the dangers of unchecked AI. Elon Musk, for example, has compared the effort to build artificial general intelligence to the Manhattan Project, and he has often sounded apocalyptic in his warnings.
