In a thought-provoking conversation on the podcast “This Past Weekend” hosted by comedian Theo Von, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared bold insights on the future of education and the growing dominance of artificial intelligence. Altman, a pioneer behind ChatGPT, believes that rapid advancements in AI will fundamentally reshape how future generations learn and interact with technology.
He predicted that traditional education models could soon become obsolete, suggesting that his own child may never need to attend college. “Education will feel very different in just a few years,” Altman said, emphasizing that children born today will grow up in a world where AI is deeply integrated into daily life, reshaping how knowledge is acquired and applied.
Altman also issued a stark warning about AI surpassing human intelligence, stating that it’s only a matter of time before AI systems consistently outperform people in both intellectual tasks and productivity. “We are heading toward a future where humans may never again be smarter than machines,” he noted.
While AI’s role in education and work continues to evolve, Altman raised concerns about the impact of short-form content on children’s cognitive development, citing the addictive nature of quick dopamine hits from social media. Surprisingly, he also admitted that he’s more concerned about older generations, who may struggle to keep up with technological change. “It’s easier for kids growing up with tech. But for a 50-year-old learning everything anew? That’s tough,” he said, adding, “Even I’m scared of AI sometimes.”