AR Rahman urges Sam Altman and Aravind Srinivas to ensure AI doesn’t make people lose...

AR Rahman

Music composer A R Rahman has revealed what he considers the most crucial message for the world’s leading AI executives. Speaking on Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath’s People by WTF podcast, Rahman said that his first and most persistent request to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas was simple: “Don’t make people lose jobs.”

Rahman shared that he has spent considerable time speaking with both Altman and Srinivas, often repeating this same concern “like a broken record.” His focus, he explained, is not on resisting technological change but on directing artificial intelligence toward empowering communities rather than replacing them.

He urged the industry to prioritise solutions that help reduce poverty, misinformation, and the lack of access to creative tools, which he described as long-standing “generational curses.” According to him, AI holds the potential to create opportunities for young and emerging creators who may have ideas but lack resources.

Rahman also issued a strong warning about unregulated AI development. Drawing a striking analogy, he compared unchecked AI systems to a gun without rules — something that can cause harm not by intention, but by lack of control. Just as societies impose strict rules on weapons, immigration, and traffic, Rahman argued that AI too must operate within boundaries set by humans to prevent economic destabilisation and widespread job loss.

The composer further elaborated on his involvement in Secret Mountain, a long-developing creative project in collaboration with OpenAI. He described it as a blend of human creativity and AI-powered workflows, spanning music, fashion, entertainment, and merchandise. Rahman believes that such projects demonstrate how AI and traditional artistry can work together to build new industries rather than dismantle existing ones. He added that Altman expressed interest in collaborating and offered technological support for the project.

Even as he highlighted the risks of uncontrolled AI adoption, Rahman maintained that AI can serve as an equaliser — especially for creators who lack infrastructure. His message to global AI leaders remains consistent: technology must be built to elevate people, not push them into unemployment.