Sam Altman says he had productive discussions with Trump on AI: ‘I think he really understands..’

Sam Altman, CEO of artificial intelligence (AI) company OpenAI, said that he has engaged in productive discussions with President Donald Trump regarding AI. Altman credited Trump with a strong grasp of the technology’s geopolitical and economic significance.“I think he really gets it,” Altman stated during a live interview with The New York Times’ tech podcast, Hard Fork, in San Francisco.“I think he really understands the importance of leadership in this technology,” he added.Altman has actively cultivated a relationship with Trump. Notably, the day after Trump’s inauguration in January, Altman was present in the White House’s Roosevelt Room when Trump announced “Stargate,” a $100 billion AI infrastructure deal backed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle. Trump then described it as “the largest AI infrastructure project by far in history.”Altman reiterated his view that Trump comprehends AI and “the potential for economic transformation, sort of geopolitical importance, the need to build a lot of infrastructure.”

Sam Altman says that AI will change nature of jobs

Altman has consistently addressed the long-standing concerns about AI’s impact on the job market. While acknowledging the widespread apprehension that AI could displace human workers, Altman posits that this transformation is an inevitable consequence of technological advancement.“I think that there is going to be some sort of change,” Altman stated. “I think it’s inevitable. I think every time you get a platform shift, you get the changing job market,” he added.Altman maintains an optimistic outlook, suggesting that, historically, the introduction of more efficient tools, like AI, ultimately leads to increased efficiency and a higher quality of life for people. This perspective implies that while certain roles may evolve or diminish, new opportunities and improved overall living standards are likely outcomes.