Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and a major participant in the global AI revolution, provided his perspective on the influence of AI on employment in a recent interview with Satyan Gajwani, vice-chairman of Times Internet Ltd. Altman recognised that artificial intelligence is a disruptor, but he stressed that it is not a permanent job killer. While AI-induced technical breakthroughs may result in the abolition of specific jobs, history has shown that new and better job opportunities emerge in their place, and labour markets adjust to such disruptions over time.
However, Altman warns that the rate at which this shift occurs may be unprecedented. Because of the faster pace of change caused by AI, governments must explore new socioeconomic contracts and adopt a new viewpoint on how to confront this disruption. Altman stated his support for “sovereign” AI research and emphasised the necessity of avoiding a situation in which a single or a few foreign businesses had sole control over life-changing technologies. He praised India for being well-positioned to undertake government-funded AI research with enormous potential.
In terms of legislation, Altman praised its position in the AI ecosystem. He admitted that the degree of disruption created by AI, which is increasing at an exponential rate, demands government involvement. Altman’s regulatory attitude stands out among Silicon Valley tech CEOs, who are frequently wary of government-funded research and regulation. Altman also addressed worries about AI’s adverse consequences, such as deep fakes and fraud. He expressed confidence that technical improvements will meet these difficulties by providing accessible ways to restore authenticity.
Although Altman does not believe that AI spells the end of the world, he cautioned that people are underestimating the magnitude and speed of the forthcoming changes. Highlighting the rapid evolution of AI technology, he emphasised that even incremental possibilities must be considered. Altman urged those involved in AI development to prepare for unlikely scenarios, including the famous 1% extinction risk, and develop mitigating technologies accordingly. According to Altman, the future iterations of AI, such as ChatGPT 10, will vastly differ from their predecessors, emphasising the need to anticipate and adapt to transformative advancements in the field.