Sam Altman Predicts AGI by 2030, Says AI Will Automate 40% of Tasks

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has made a new prediction about the arrival of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). In a recent interview, he said that “superintelligent AI” will be a reality by 2030, and that between 30 and 40 percent of the tasks performed in today’s global economy will soon be carried out by artificial intelligence systems.

Altman explained that OpenAI’s latest model, GPT-5, is already more intelligent than many people, including himself. However, he believes that true superintelligence is still ahead. “If by 2030 we do not have models capable of doing things that humans cannot,” he said, “I will be very surprised.

When asked how many jobs might disappear as a result of AI, Altman declined to give a precise number. He noted that many jobs that existed thirty years ago have already disappeared due to normal technological evolution. Rather than focus on jobs, he said that around 30 to 40 percent of economic tasks will soon be handled by AI.

When asked what advice he would give his son to avoid being replaced by AI in the next three decades, Altman responded, “The key skill is learning how to learn. You have to be adaptable, resilient, and ready for major change. Learn what people want, how to create useful products and services for them, and how to interact with the world.”

The conversation also touched on deeper questions about AI’s relationship with humanity. Altman was asked whether he agreed with researcher Eliezer Yudkowsky, who compared the future relationship between superintelligent AI and humans to that between humans and ants, and whether he feared that AI might one day view humanity as inferior. Altman disagreed with that view, saying he believes Artificial General Intelligence will treat humanity as a “loving parent.”

His view echoes that of AI pioneers Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun of Meta, who recently suggested that developers should build a kind of “maternal instinct” into AI systems to ensure they genuinely care about people.

Altman also acknowledged the risks of developing AGI, including potential side effects and unpredictable outcomes. “It is very important that we align this intelligence with human values,” he said. “We are the ones who define those values, and I do not believe AGI will treat humans as ants. Let’s make that clear.”

He concluded by predicting that more global leaders and executives will rely on AI to make strategic decisions in the coming years. On a lighter note, Altman admitted that unlike many users, he does not use ChatGPT for personal or relationship advice.