OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently spoke in Washington at the Capital Framework for Large Banks conference, sharing some thoughts that may prompt a pause if you work in customer support or a similar field. He discussed how AI could potentially eliminate certain jobs, yet when it comes to trusting AI like ChatGPT with something as serious as medical care, he remains skeptical.
During a fireside chat with Federal Reserve vice-chair Michelle Bowman, Altman was upfront about the unpredictability of AI’s future. He said, “No-one knows what happens next… this is too complex of a system, this is too new and impactful of a technology.“ But then he made a significant prediction: entire classes of jobs will disappear, while new ones will emerge, much like how technology has transformed work throughout history.
He gave the example of AI customer support bots, which have become incredibly effective. Instead of getting stuck in endless phone trees, now an AI can handle everything a human agent could do, often faster and without mistakes. Altman seemed fine with that shift, saying, “It doesn’t bother me at all that that’s an AI, not a person.“ Honestly, I’ve had some hit-or-miss moments with those bots, but I can’t deny they’ve sped things up.
That said, Altman isn’t ready to let AI take over everything. He said he still wants a human doctor. ChatGPT may be a better diagnostician than many doctors, according to online reports, but it’s not yet ready to be fully trusted without a human in the loop. He admitted, “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, a recent survey from the UK found that approximately 20% of general practitioners already utilize AI tools, such as ChatGPT, to assist with tasks like writing letters after appointments or suggesting alternative diagnoses. So AI is definitely creeping into medicine, but humans aren’t out yet.
Altman’s comments come as the US government plans to reveal an AI action plan, which might include executive orders addressing political bias in AI models and expanding AI data centers. The role of AI in society is only going to grow, which means job markets will shift. If you’re in customer support, for example, it might be time to think about new skills. But hey, who’s going to cover all this in the news if AI takes over everything?
What do you think? Are you worried about AI taking your job, or do you trust it more than humans in certain areas? Let’s chat in the comments!
