OpenAI’s Altman Says AI Will Not Shorten the Workweek — and May Eliminate 30–40% of Jobs

Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, has poured cold water on the idea that artificial intelligence will give workers more free time. In a podcast episode titled “Relentless” released on July 27, 2026, Altman argued that productivity gains from AI will not lead to a shorter workweek — contradicting widespread hopes that efficiency improvements could translate into models like a four-day week.

Human nature, Altman explained, is fundamentally competitive. Rather than using AI-driven efficiency to relax, employees and companies will channel those gains into even higher output to stay ahead of rivals. “People are naturally competitive,” he said. “Productivity gains won’t go toward leisure — they’ll go toward doing more.”

Looking further ahead, Altman predicted that once a so-called superintelligence is achieved, demands on humans will not ease. On the contrary, he expects everyone involved to become busier than before. He also stated that society has already reached the point of singularity — the phase where technological developments take on an irreversible momentum of their own.

Despite the prospect of sustained or even rising workloads for individuals, Altman warned of severe structural consequences for employment. He noted that the integration of AI systems has the potential to replace 30 to 40 percent of current jobs. That forecast underscores the massive upheaval that could hit global labor markets, even as pressure on remaining workers stays high.

For strategic workforce planning and labor law, these remarks suggest that the technological dividend of the AI revolution may flow primarily into additional economic output and innovation, rather than broad-based relief for employees. Experts and companies now face the challenge of reconciling productivity growth — driven by competitive instincts — with the looming disappearance of many job profiles.

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