While many fear that artificial intelligence (AI) could wipe out jobs, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has a different perspective, he thinks young people will actually thrive. Speaking on the Huge If True podcast, Altman called Gen Z “the luckiest kids in all of history,” thanks to the opportunities technology will bring.
He acknowledged that some types of jobs will “totally go away” as AI advances, but said this is nothing new. “This always happens, and young people are the best at adapting to this,” Altman said. “I’m more worried about the 62-year-old who doesn’t want to go retrain or reskill or whatever the politicians call it.”
According to Altman, AI will help young creators turn their ideas into reality faster than ever before, and their flexibility will give them an edge in adjusting to new tools and industries.
Not everyone shares his optimism. Former Google X executive Mo Gawdat recently warned that AI could cause massive disruption as soon as 2027, wiping out white-collar jobs even for software developers, CEOs, and podcasters. He predicted that the next 15 years could bring “hell” before any benefits arrive, with the middle class disappearing entirely. “Unless you’re in the top 0.1 percent, you’re a peasant,” Gawdat said, warning of potential social unrest.
AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton has also sounded alarms, suggesting that AI systems could eventually develop their own language, making it impossible for humans to fully understand or control them.
Altman’s view, however, remains focused on adaptability. For him, the challenge isn’t whether young people can find their place in an AI-driven world, it’s making sure older workers aren’t left behind.
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