AI is no longer a futuristic fantasy; it’s now embedded in the daily workflows of modern businesses. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has shed light on how far AI has come, revealing that AI agents can already handle tasks once reserved for entry-level workers.
In a recent conversation with Snowflake CEO Sridhar Ramaswamy, Sam Altman offered a striking comparison to describe the current capabilities of AI. He likened today’s AI to an intern who can work effectively for a few hours. However, he quickly noted that this intern is evolving. “At some point, it’ll be like an experienced software engineer that can work for a couple of days,” he said. The trajectory is clear: AI isn’t just here to support its learning to lead.
Altman further predicted that within the next year, AI agents will begin to show capabilities far beyond repetitive tasks. They may begin helping to discover new knowledge and solve non-trivial business problems, functioning at a level that challenges even seasoned professionals. This leap in performance is expected to happen sooner rather than later, as AI systems are becoming exponentially more capable.
While these developments are exciting for innovation, they pose a serious question for the workforce: how do humans stay relevant? Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang tackled that concern head-on at the Milken Institute’s Global Conference. He didn’t mince words when he said, “You’re not going to lose your job to an AI, but you’re going to lose your job to someone who uses AI.” Huang’s message underlined the necessity of embracing AI not just as an accessory, but as a core competency in modern work life.
Among those already taking that advice to heart are Gen Z workers, who seem to view AI in a uniquely favorable light. According to a recent Resume.org survey, 51% of Gen Z respondents said they see generative AI as either a coworker or a friend. That’s a noticeably higher level of comfort compared to just over 40% of millennials and only 35% of Gen Xers and baby boomers who reported similar views.
Altman has observed these generational differences firsthand. He noted that older users typically treat ChatGPT like a smarter version of Google, relying on it for quick answers. Meanwhile, people in their twenties and thirties use it more like a life advisor, seeking deeper insights and guidance. College students, according to Altman, take it even further—using AI as a kind of “operating system” to navigate daily decisions. He added, somewhat humorously, that many young people don’t make life decisions without first asking ChatGPT for its opinion.
Yet amid the optimism, not all voices in tech are sounding celebratory notes. Dario Amodei, CEO of AI company Anthropic, has raised alarms about what AI might mean for human employment. In an interview with Axios, Amodei predicted that AI could wipe out half of all entry-level white-collar jobs within the next five years. He warned that unemployment could surge to between 10% and 20%, a steep rise from the current rate of about 4%.
Backing up his concerns are the latest advancements in Anthropic’s own AI model, Claude. The system is now reportedly able to code autonomously for nearly seven hours straight, without fatigue, oversight, or error. Amodei’s team was candid about their outlook, telling tech podcaster Dwarkesh Patel that the next decade could be “pretty terrible” for human workers, particularly those in desk-bound, knowledge-based roles.
