'Listening to old people...': OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shares advice with IIT Delhi students on AI future

Sam Altman Urges Youth To Trust Instincts. (Image credit: Reuters)

• Sam Altman urges youth to adapt quickly to fast-evolving AI.
• He urges students to trust their own judgement over tradition.
• Altman praises India's AI growth and PM Modi's inclusive vision.

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, speaking to students at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, offered advice for young people preparing for a future shaped by artificial intelligence. When asked about the biggest mistake youth make, Altman said the real problem is underestimating how fast AI is evolving. He urged students to experiment with AI daily rather than treating it as a distant technology.

“I think listening to old people is the biggest mistake young people make. For a predictor of what the world is going to be like going forward, I don't think you should trust me for having good intuition of the rate of change. Young people always figure this out the best, and the world you are all inheriting is going to be very different, and you'll have to quickly develop your own intuitions and trust them. But I think the traditional career advice is probably not going to work as well,” he said.

Altman stressed that believing in oneself and adapting to change are crucial in today’s evolving technology landscape. He said traditional career paths may not provide clear direction in an AI-driven era. Instead, he advised students to trust their judgement and stay open to new opportunities.

"I think listening to old people is the biggest mistake young people make. I think the traditional career advice is probably not going to work as well."

Sam Altman was answering the quetsion - "what is the biggest mistake you see young people make right now when they apparently… pic.twitter.com/rz3uM6tRNg — Rohan Paul (@rohanpaul_ai) February 23, 2026

Altman also pointed to India’s rising influence in artificial intelligence worldwide. He said Indian innovators are showing strong enthusiasm in adopting and building AI tools. He added that India represents a major opportunity for OpenAI.

“The energy here, the excitement of builders with AI in India for the entire stack is amazing to see. One of the highlights was that I got to speak at IIT Delhi today. Leaders throughout India and around the world really see what's happening here. This is already our second-largest market, and it's growing incredibly fast. There's something very special, and it was great to see PM Modi's leadership around bringing us to the next level,” he said.

Altman also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to artificial intelligence. He highlighted the focus on inclusive growth and responsible use of the technology.

“I love the Prime Minister's vision. I think his enthusiasm for what this can be, the need to democratise this technology, which is something very near to our hearts, and his balancing that with making sure that everyone in society benefits and we get to mitigate the risks was outstanding,” he added.