OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Envisions AI Taking His Job: "Shame On Me If OpenAI Isn't First With An AI Chief Executive"

In an era where artificial intelligence integration is increasingly threatening job security across various industries, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has expressed his desire for AI to eventually assume his leadership position.

Speaking on the Conversations with Tyler podcast, Altman boldly stated, "Shame on me if OpenAI is not the first major company operated by an AI CEO." He further elaborated, "I find this a fascinating thought experiment—what would need to occur for an AI CEO to perform significantly better at running OpenAI than myself, which will inevitably happen someday. But how can we accelerate that timeline?"

Altman predicted that AI could potentially manage entire corporate departments within "single-digit years." However, he acknowledged a significant hurdle: humans inherently trust other humans more than artificial intelligence, even when this trust might be irrational. "People maintain substantially higher trust in fellow humans compared to AI. Even if an AI doctor provides better care, people still prefer human interaction. I believe it may take considerably longer for society to become truly comfortable with this transition and for organizational members to fully embrace it," he explained.

In a previous discussion with Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner, Altman admitted that the concept of AI replacing jobs doesn't concern him personally. When asked about his plans after stepping down as CEO, Altman revealed his intention to pursue farming. "I own a farm where I reside part-time, and I thoroughly enjoy it. It would represent a wonderful change of pace," said the Silicon Valley executive, who possesses multiple properties across San Francisco, Napa, and Hawaii.