Bret Taylor, chairman of OpenAI and cofounder of the startup Sierra, says artificial intelligence represents one of the most profound turning points in modern technology comparable to the rise of the internet. While optimistic about its potential to supercharge productivity, he also acknowledges that AI may fundamentally alter what it means to be a computer programmer.
In an interview on the Acquired podcast, Taylor reflected on his career spanning more than two decades, during which he played a role in building landmark technologies such as Google Maps, served as co-CEO of Salesforce, and was chief technology officer at Facebook (now Meta). Despite his executive pedigree, Taylor still identifies most strongly as a programmer, a role he admits could be reshaped, or even diminished, by AI.
“The thing I self-identify with [being a computer programmer] is, like, being obviated by this technology,” Taylor said. “These tools are being embraced so quickly because they truly are like an Iron Man suit for all of us as individuals.”
Taylor believes AI’s ability to automate and accelerate coding mirrors past technological leaps that redefined entire professions. He compared today’s programmers to the “computers” of the pre-digital era, human calculators whose roles disappeared with the advent of electronic machines.
He argues that we are living through a pivotal societal and technological shift: “This is an inflection point in society and technology, just as important as the invention of the internet was in the 20th century.”
At Sierra, the AI-focused company he co-founded in 2023, Taylor has ensured the technology is embedded into every workflow. He said employees are expected not just to adopt AI tools voluntarily but to integrate them into their daily work to remain competitive.
“You want people to sort of adopt these tools because they want to, and you sort of need to … ‘voluntell’ them to do it, too,” he explained. “I don’t think we can succeed as a company if we’re not the poster child for automation in everything that we do.”
Still, Taylor acknowledged the human side of the AI transition will be uncomfortable. As people’s professional identities and sense of value are disrupted, the shift may prove challenging.
“You’re going to have this period of transition where it’s saying, like, ‘How I’ve come to identify my own worth, either as a person or as an employee, has been disrupted.’ That’s very uncomfortable. And that transition isn’t always easy.”