Sam Altman, soon to be a father, reflects on the evolving role of intelligence in an AI-dominated world and the importance of adapting human skills.
January 22, 2025: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has made a bold claim about the future of artificial intelligence and its impact on humanity. Speaking on the Re: Thinking podcast with Adam Grant, the soon-to-be father shared his belief that the next generation will naturally grow up in a world where AI surpasses human intelligence.
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“My kid is never gonna grow up being smarter than AI,” Altman stated, explaining that such a reality will eventually feel normal. “Of course, it’s smarter than us. Of course, it can do things we can’t, but also who really cares?” he added, emphasizing that intelligence alone may no longer be the most valued trait.
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As Altman prepares to welcome a child with his husband, Oliver Mulherin, he reflected on the skills his child might need to navigate an AI-driven future. He believes that raw intellectual prowess will take a backseat to other abilities. “It’s not about raw, intellectual horsepower anymore. The real value will lie in figuring out the right questions to ask,” he said.
Adapting to an AI Future
Altman and podcast host Adam Grant discussed how the role of humans will evolve alongside AI. Grant suggested that being a “connector of dots” will become more important than being a “collector of facts.” Altman agreed, drawing parallels to past technological shifts like Google’s integration into education.
“The prompting tricks people used in 2023 are no longer relevant,” Altman noted, explaining that as AI advances, humans will need to engage with it in deeper, more thoughtful ways. He also pointed to chess as an example, where early AI models initially lost to humans but later surpassed them. However, he highlighted that the best results come from collaboration, saying, “AI and humans working together in chess beat an AI team.”
AI’s Impact on Jobs and Economy
Altman remains optimistic about humanity’s ability to adapt to the economic changes brought by AI. Addressing fears of job displacement, he said, “We always find new jobs, even though every time we stare at a new technology, we assume they’re all going to go away.” He envisions a transformed economy where AI complements human creativity and skills.
In addition to these reflections, Altman announced OpenAI’s upcoming ‘o3 mini’ reasoning AI model, set to launch within weeks. Designed to tackle complex tasks in science, coding, and mathematics, the model is positioned as a competitor to Google’s advanced AI systems.
Tags: Sam Altman, OpenAI, Artificial Intelligence, AI Revolution, Future Skills, o3 Mini AI Model, AI and Jobs, AI in Education