Altman Predicts AI Job Disruption But Not For Doctors
During a recent fireside chat in Washington D.C., OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared his vision for how artificial intelligence will reshape the professional landscape. Speaking at the Capital Framework for Large Banks conference, he began with a note of caution about the future.
"No-one knows what happens next," Altman stated. "This is too complex of a system, this is too new and impactful of a technology. It's very hard to predict."
The Inevitable Shift in the Job Market
Despite his initial disclaimer, Altman didn't shy away from making bold predictions about AI's impact on employment. He foresees a significant transformation, echoing historical shifts driven by new technologies.
"There are cases where entire classes of jobs will go away," he explained. "There are entirely new classes of jobs that will come, and largely, I think this will look somewhat like most of history, in that the tools people have to do their jobs will let them do more."
This suggests a future where AI acts as both a disruptor and an enabler, eliminating certain roles while augmenting others and creating new opportunities.
Customer Support A Prime Target for AI Replacement
When asked to specify which jobs are most at risk, Altman pointed directly at customer service. He described modern AI support bots as a revolutionary improvement over traditional human-based systems.
"Some areas, again, I think are just, like, totally gone," Altman said, citing his experience with AI customer support bots as "incredible." He elaborated, "Now you call one of these things, an AI answers, it's like a super smart capable person… it can do everything that any customer support agent at that company could do, it does not make mistakes, it's very quick... It doesn't bother me at all that that's an AI, not a person."
For Altman, this is one category where the transition to full automation is not only likely but also beneficial for the consumer experience.
The Human Touch AI Cant Replace Yet
However, Altman draws a firm line when it comes to high-stakes professions, particularly medicine. Despite acknowledging AI's impressive capabilities, he insists on the need for human oversight.
"I really do want a human doctor," he confessed. "ChatGPT today, by the way, most of the time, is a better diagnostician than most doctors in the world... and yet people still go to doctors. Maybe I'm a dinosaur here, but I really do not want to trust my medical fate to ChatGPT with no human doctor in the loop."
Interestingly, this line is already beginning to blur. A recent survey of UK GPs revealed that one-fifth are already using tools like ChatGPT for daily tasks, including drafting patient letters and even suggesting alternative diagnoses.
AI's Growing Role in Society and Policy
Altman's comments arrived as the Trump administration prepared to unveil its AI action plan. The plan reportedly includes executive orders to address perceived political bias in AI models and facilitate the construction of more AI data centers.
The rapid integration of AI into our daily lives and its growing importance on the political agenda is undeniable. While this may be bad news for customer support agents, it seems that for now, professions requiring a critical human touch—like doctors and, one hopes, journalists—remain secure.
