OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently engaged in a wide-ranging conversation with The Economic Times in New Delhi, covering various topics such as the excitement among investors surrounding generative AI and concerns about potential job displacement.
Altman’s discussion with Times Internet vice chairman Satyan Gajwani drew a crowd of over 200 attendees, including prominent figures from India’s internet industry, investment funds, government officials, and more.
Altman’s visit to India also includes meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
During a conversation with The Economic Times, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the fears of job losses resulting from AI adoption but emphasized that new and better jobs will emerge over time. He noted that while job displacement is not a new phenomenon, the speed at which AI could bring about change requires governments to rethink the socio-economic contract.
Altman stressed the need for global collaboration in regulating AI and stated that decisions regarding ethical guidelines should be democratized. He mentioned that OpenAI’s funding aims to support such projects. Altman did not provide a specific timeline for the launch of GPT5, stating that further research is required.
He reassured that AI cannot replace human creativity, stating that expectations will increase instead. Altman expressed admiration for India’s adoption of ChatGPT, highlighting the country’s enthusiasm and early adoption. He also praised India’s technological advancements, including UPI, Aadhaar, and the India stack.
