“Betting against humans is…”, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on AI and jobs

In a thoughtful post on X (formerly Twitter), OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared his evolving view on how AI will reshape work, creativity, and human ambition — and it’s far from dystopian.

Altman echoed sentiments expressed by Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, emphasising that while jobs will change dramatically, the human drive to do, create, and connect will remain intact. “There is a ton of stuff to do in the world,” Altman wrote, suggesting that AI won’t replace purpose — it will expand possibility.

He broke it down simply. First, people will be able to do far more than before — and the expectation to do more will rise in tandem. Second, he argues that we’ll still deeply care about what other people do, a nod to how community and admiration fuel meaning. Third, the urge to create and be useful won’t go away; if anything, it may become easier to express.

Jobs in the future, Altman predicts, may look like games to us today — playful yet purposeful. Just as modern influencers or esports athletes might have baffled our grandparents, future work could look alien but still be meaningful.