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Is AI coming for jobs?
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, has been making waves in Washington - again. But this time, his message cut even deeper. During a conversation at the Federal Reserve’s event for large banks, he didn’t beat around the bush: AI, he says, is already reshaping how we live and work, and that’s not always going to be pretty.
Say Goodbye to Some Jobs, Entirely
According to Altman, we’re not just looking at certain jobs changing thanks to AI - we’re looking at some careers disappearing. Permanently.
His biggest example? Customer service. If you’re thinking call centers with long hold music and endless menus, those might soon be gone entirely - along with the jobs tied to them. “When you call customer support,” he said, “you’re speaking to AI. And that’s fine.” No people, no hold music. Just instant answers powered by highly capable machines.
For Altman, the shift isn’t something for the next generation to worry about - it’s already underway. AI can now pick up a phone call, talk to customers, resolve problems in real time, and do it without making errors.
Not Everyone Shares the Optimism
Not everyone in tech is clapping from the sidelines. CTO of Jitterbit, Manoj Chaudhary, injected some badly-needed skepticism into the conversation. His issue? It’s not AI that threatens jobs. It’s reckless deployment. He argued that giving AI power without a clear plan - or human judgment - is where we fall off the edge.
“When companies cut corners just to look more efficient,” Chaudhary explained, “they risk forgetting that human insights still matter - a lot.” Sure, an AI might beat your wait time, but it won’t read the frustration in your voice, or understand when not to stick to the script.
From Job Cuts to Medical Consults
It’s not just front-line jobs that Altman thinks are under pressure. His own creation, ChatGPT, he claims, can now match (and sometimes outperform) many doctors in terms of diagnostics. Imagine typing a few symptoms and getting faster, more accurate feedback than most physicians offer. That's what Altman believes we’re approaching.
But even as he hyped the breakthroughs, Altman didn’t miss the chance to point out one unsettling fact: he wouldn’t rely solely on AI if his own health was at stake. “I do not want to entrust my medical fate to ChatGPT without a human doctor in the loop,” he confessed.
A powerful reminder that, while machines may become tools of convenience, there’s still some stuff best left in human hands.
Bigger Picture: National Security Fears Are Growing
In DC, however, conversations are shifting fast. Under Biden, regulation and caution were key themes. With the possibility of a Trump return, the lens is likely to focus hard on competition with countries like China.
Altman played right into this with some striking admissions. One of his worst fears, he told policymakers, is a foreign adversary using AI to go after America’s financial infrastructure. Think automated cyber-attacks on banking systems, maybe launched with stolen or deepfaked identities.
But Why Is Altman Saying All This Now?
OpenAI isn’t shouting from the sidelines - it’s moving in. The company plans to open a Washington office in 2025. Make no mistake: this wasn’t just a visit - it was positioning.
Altman came with a tough pitch: AI is going to change everything. If handled carelessly, it could ruin careers and weaken global security. But if handled correctly - preferably under OpenAI's watch - it could drive huge progress.
So…hero, threat, or something in-between? That, for now, is up to policymakers to decide. Altman just wants to be in the room when they do.