Sam Altman rejected the narrative that artificial intelligence leads to widespread job cuts, telling CNBC that companies embracing AI are hiring more, not less. The OpenAI CEO argued that firms citing AI as a reason for layoffs are often the ones adopting the technology least.
Altman spoke Monday while celebrating the groundbreaking of a 1-gigawatt data center in Michigan, a project that underscores OpenAI's own expansion. He acknowledged uncertainty about AI's ultimate impact on employment but said his outlook has grown more optimistic after watching companies adopt OpenAI's coding tools like Codex.
“The companies that I know that have adopted AI the most are also the ones hiring the most,” Altman said. He warned that AI can be a “convenient way” for companies to explain layoffs, suggesting the correlation between automation and job losses is not as direct as popularly believed.
Hours earlier, rival AI startup Anthropic confidentially filed paperwork for an initial public offering, signaling a major milestone in the sector's push toward public markets. OpenAI is also targeting a public debut later this year, but Altman downplayed any competition over timing.
“Going public is a financing event, and I don't think that's one that we're focused on the timing of,” Altman said. The comments frame the AI race as centered on technology and business outcomes rather than which company reaches Wall Street first.