“You and I are living through this once-in-human-history transition where humans go from being the smartest thing on planet Earth—to not the smartest thing on planet Earth.” – Sam Altman
AI is evolving at an unprecedented pace, and the question on everyone's mind is: Will humans still have a place in the future of work?
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has been at the forefront of this conversation, shaping AI’s trajectory and addressing concerns about how it will impact jobs, creativity, and the economy. In a recent interview on ReThinking with Adam Grant, Altman shared his predictions for the future of work and the skills that will matter most in an AI-driven world.
His perspective? AI will change everything—but humans will always find new things to do.
AI’s Rapid Evolution: Are Humans Already Falling Behind?
The world has seen an explosion of AI capabilities, from writing and coding to scientific research and medical diagnoses. Altman openly admits that OpenAI’s latest models feel “smarter than me in almost every way.” Yet, despite this rapid advancement, daily life hasn’t changed dramatically—yet.
While AI is increasingly handling tasks that once required human intelligence, Altman believes this shift is nothing new. Just as previous technological revolutions sparked fears of widespread job loss, society adapted each time.
“It’s true that some jobs go away, but we find so many new things to do—and hopefully, so many better things to do.”
History supports this. The Industrial Revolution replaced manual labor with machinery, but it also created entirely new industries. The internet eliminated certain jobs, but it enabled remote work, digital marketing, and countless new career paths. AI, Altman argues, will follow the same pattern—it’s just happening much faster.
The Skills That Will Matter Most in an AI-Driven World
If AI surpasses humans in knowledge and reasoning, what will set people apart?
Altman believes that agility will matter more than raw ability. Traditionally, intelligence has been measured by how much information someone retains, but with AI capable of retrieving and synthesizing knowledge instantly, memorization is becoming less valuable.
Instead, the most important skill in the AI era will be the ability to ask the right questions.
“Figuring out what questions to ask will be more important than figuring out the answer.”
This means that critical thinking, problem-solving, and pattern recognition will become key differentiators. In fact, research supports this shift. A study mentioned in the ReThinking interview found that AI-assisted scientists filed 39% more patents and created 17% more product innovations. The catch? The AI didn’t replace scientists—it helped them focus on evaluating ideas rather than generating them.
AI won’t eliminate human intelligence, but it will redefine it. Those who excel at connecting ideas rather than just collecting them will have the greatest advantage.
AI as a Co-Pilot, Not a Replacement
Altman is optimistic about AI’s role in the workforce, seeing it as a powerful tool that enhances productivity rather than outright replacing workers.
From coding assistants that improve software development to AI-powered research tools that accelerate scientific discoveries, AI is already augmenting human capabilities. The key is learning how to work with AI rather than against it.
A prime example of this is in the medical field. Studies show that while AI outperforms individual doctors in diagnosing certain conditions, doctor-AI teams don’t always improve outcomes—because doctors override the AI too often.
“If you view your role as to try to override the AI in all cases, then it turns out not to work,” Altman explains.
Instead, professionals must learn when to trust AI, when to challenge it, and how to integrate its capabilities into their decision-making process.
This dynamic will play out across every industry, requiring workers to develop AI literacy—not to compete with AI, but to leverage it effectively.
The New Relationship Between Humans and AI
Altman sees the AI revolution as part of a long, unfolding technological curve—one that ultimately leads to more opportunity, not less.
He references a line from Battlestar Galactica:
“All this has happened before, and all this will happen again.”
In other words, humanity has faced similar technological upheavals before. Each time, we feared widespread displacement, and each time, we found new ways to create value. The same will happen with AI.
That said, the transition will require reskilling, adaptability, and a shift in mindset. Those who resist AI or dismiss its potential will struggle, while those who embrace it as a tool for enhancement rather than replacement will thrive.
Preparing for the AI-Powered Future
So, what does the future of work look like?
✅ AI will change jobs, but it won’t make humans obsolete.
✅ Agility and creativity will matter more than knowledge retention.
✅ The ability to ask great questions will become more valuable than simply having answers.
✅ Workers who learn to collaborate with AI will have a significant advantage.
Altman offers simple but powerful advice for those navigating this transformation: Use the tools. Experiment. Stay adaptable.
“We put out the most powerful model that exists in the world today, and anybody can use it. It’s out there—the leading edge—and you can access the exact same frontier. Go use it and figure out what you like about it, what you don’t, what you think is going to happen with it.”
The AI revolution isn’t about humans vs. AI—it’s about how we evolve alongside it. And as history has shown us, we always do.
