Sam Altman on the future of jobs and coding

n a recent conversation between Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, and Varun Mayya, the discussion ranged from groundbreaking AI tools to their impact on jobs, creativity, and India’s rapid adoption of technology.

This exchange offers a glimpse into how AI is reshaping industries, societies, and individual careers. Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways.

New Image Generation Tools: Unleashing Creativity

Sam Altman kicked off by diving into OpenAI’s latest image generation tools, which have stunned users with their versatility.

Altman revealed the staggering scale of adoption: "We will cross a billion total images in the not-distant future".

Beyond sheer numbers, he’s excited by the creative explosion: "People making just really new kinds of images I had never thought about before… that’s been to me quite exciting".

From anime avatars to small business logos, these tools are democratizing design in unprecedented ways.

India’s Rapid AI Adoption: A Global Leader

India emerged as a focal point, with Altman noting, "India, I believe, is our fastest-growing market now".

He emphasized its historical significance: "India was one of the first markets outside the US that really jumped on AI in a huge way".

Varun probed about broader usage, and Altman reflected on his recent visit: "It was non-stop stories from people about what they were using ChatGPT for… it’s quite incredible the degree to which it has permeated Indian society".

However, challenges remain. Altman admitted, "We get feedback that our price point is too high for mass adoption in the Indian market", but he’s optimistic about reducing costs with more efficient models. India’s enthusiasm positions it as a testing ground for AI’s global potential.

AI’s Impact on Creative Jobs: Evolution, Not Elimination

The conversation shifted to jobs, particularly in creative fields like UI and design. Varun observed that despite AI’s capabilities, human oversight persists: "We still need a person to run the tool because humans still need accountability".

Altman agreed, predicting an uneven evolution: "There will be some jobs that totally go away… mostly I think it’ll be a case of a new tool where people are just much more productive".

He envisioned elevated expectations: "The expectations of how good a website looks just go up a lot, and we all get better stuff". Rather than mass displacement, AI could amplify demand for high-quality work, potentially creating more opportunities.

New AI Jobs & Prompt Engineering: The Next Frontier

Altman highlighted emerging roles, like prompt engineering: "Before AI came along, there was no such thing as a prompt engineer".

Despite initial skepticism—"A lot of people still don’t take it seriously", Altman defended its value, drawing from personal experience: "The adults in my life would say, ‘Oh, that’s a hobby job, these computers aren’t going to go anywhere’".

He urged conviction in new paths: "Just because something is not a historically valuable or high-status job doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future".

AI & the Democratization of Creativity: A Net Win

Addressing concerns about AI diluting artistic craft, Altman offered a broader perspective: "The democratization of creating content has been a big net win for society".

He contrasted today’s ease—"Anybody on Earth can get a smartphone and record themselves"—with the barriers of 30 years ago, like camcorders and VHS tapes.

While acknowledging trade-offs, he believes, "Lowering the barriers to entry does significantly increase the number of people that can contribute to society, and we all benefit".

Are AI Startups Just Wrappers? Innovation Prevails

On the debate about AI startups being mere “wrappers” around foundational models, Altman dismissed the cynicism: "People are building absolutely incredible new companies based off of AI… some of them will find a really enduring business".

Reflecting on OpenAI’s own journey—"They used to say, ‘You’re just a little research lab, and Google’s going to crush you’"—he encouraged boldness:

"If I were 20 in YC right now and someone was calling my company a GPT wrapper, I’d be like, ‘Ah, I must be in a promising direction’".

Will AI Completely Automate Coding? Productivity First

When asked about coding automation timelines, Altman sidestepped full automation, focusing instead on productivity: "I’m less interested in that question than when a coder becomes 10 times more productive, and I think that could happen this year, next year".

With coders already 2-3x more efficient, a 10x leap could redefine software development.

AI’s Potential Impact on Indian IT Jobs: Opportunity Amid Change

Varun raised concerns about India’s $250 billion IT services sector facing disruption. Altman countered with optimism: "The world just wants way more software and is about to get it".

Citing Jevons Paradox, he predicted, "A lot more software being built… demand goes up", suggesting India’s coders could thrive by leveraging AI tools to meet escalating global needs.

The Future of AI Agents: Practical Magic

Altman sees agents as transformative, especially in coding: "You can say to a coding agent, ‘I would like this new feature built,’ and it goes off and pings you back".

For consumers, he anticipates tasks like booking food or cabs becoming seamless, marking a shift toward proactive AI assistance.

Should You Leave a Company That’s Slow on AI? Yes

For employees at legacy firms resisting AI, Altman was clear: "I would move to a faster-moving company… I’d want to be responsible for my own career success". Stagnation, he argued, risks both the company and the individual’s growth.

Sam’s Counterintuitive Insight: AI’s Subtle Revolution

Closing with a surprising reflection, Altman admitted, "I somehow thought it was going to be a bigger change to society than it’s turned out to be". Far from sci-fi upheaval, he now sees AI as "this crazy powerful tool and life goes on mostly the same"—a grounded outcome he welcomes.

Sam Altman’s conversation with Varun Mayya paints a picture of AI as a force of empowerment, not disruption. From India’s rapid embrace to the rise of new creative and technical roles, the focus is on augmentation and opportunity.

As Altman concluded, "I’ve never seen adoption like this of anything anywhere" in India—a testament to AI’s global momentum. For creators, coders, and entrepreneurs, the message is clear: embrace the tools, defy the skeptics, and shape the future.

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