TLDR
- Sam Altman warns AI and humanoid robots will change jobs at an unprecedented rate compared to past technological shifts
- OpenAI is part of the $500 billion Stargate Project building AI infrastructure across the US over four years
- First Stargate data center is under construction in Texas to train OpenAI’s next-generation AI models
- Altman predicts 2025 will feature AI agents doing known tasks, while 2026 could bring major scientific breakthroughs
- OpenAI had to borrow research computing power to handle demand spikes from AI-generated Ghibli-style images
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has issued a direct warning about the future of work during a recent Bloomberg interview. He said artificial intelligence and humanoid robots will change the job market faster than any previous technological shift in history.
Altman compared this moment to past technological changes that eliminated some jobs while creating others. The key difference this time is speed, he explained during his appearance on Bloomberg’s “The Circuit with Emily Chang.”
“If you look at the history of the world, technological-driven job change has been happening for a long time,” Altman said. “The thing that is different this time is just the rate with which it looks like it will happen.”
The OpenAI leader pointed to humanoid robots as a coming disruption that most people haven’t fully grasped yet. He believes this technology will arrive sooner than expected and will directly impact many current jobs.
“I don’t think the world has really had the humanoid robots moment yet, and I don’t think that’s very far away,” Altman stated. “What happens when the humanoid robots get here? Obviously they’ll do a lot of jobs.”
Altman outlined his timeline for AI development in the near future. He expects 2025 to be marked by AI agents handling tasks that humans already know how to complete.
The $500 Billion Stargate Project
The interview covered OpenAI’s involvement in the massive Stargate Project, a $500 billion infrastructure initiative. The project involves OpenAI, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, Arm, and SoftBank working together to build AI infrastructure across the United States.
Altman described Stargate as “a complex supply chain with a lot of partners and obviously a lot of capital.” The project aims to construct data centers, energy plants, and power lines over the next four years.
The first data center is already under construction in Texas. This facility will be dedicated to training OpenAI’s next generation of AI models.
Altman revealed that the project’s name came from early data center layouts that reminded the team of the science fiction concept. The need for such massive infrastructure became clear when OpenAI underestimated how much people would actually use AI models.
Recent demand spikes highlighted the computing shortage facing OpenAI. The company had to borrow computing power from its research division when AI-generated Ghibli-style images became popular.
“Making an image is not a low compute task,” Altman explained. “We had to borrow compute capacity from research. We had to slow down some other features.”
Computing Challenges and Competition
OpenAI’s relationship with Microsoft, its biggest investor, has limitations when it comes to computing needs. Altman acknowledged that Microsoft provides valuable resources but said the scale of their requirements exceeds what any single company can deliver.
The CEO addressed competition from Chinese startup DeepSeek, which claims to have developed more cost-efficient large language models. Altman praised the DeepSeek team’s talent but dismissed claims that they discovered something more efficient than OpenAI’s approach.
OpenAI has previously suggested that DeepSeek may have used its technology through a process called distillation. Altman emphasized that OpenAI continues improving efficiency through better chips, energy sources, and algorithms.
On OpenAI’s financial future, Altman acknowledged the unprecedented nature of their business model. He admitted the company would face difficulties if users stopped paying for AI services but expressed confidence in their infrastructure and algorithm advantages.
Altman also commented on President Trump’s role in AI policy, saying Trump has impressed him with his quick understanding of the industry. He called the decisions Trump will make regarding AI among the most important anyone has made about the technology.
The first Stargate data center in Texas represents the beginning of what could be the largest AI infrastructure buildout in history.
