Sam Altman on Jobs in the Intelligence Age

Sam Altman's new essay "The Intelligence Age" offers a compelling perspective on technological unemployment that aligns with our long-held views. While acknowledging AI's significant impact on labor markets, he maintains an optimistic yet grounded outlook: "most jobs will change more slowly than most people think, and I have no fear that we'll run out of things to do."

His analogy of the lamplighter—a profession made obsolete by technological progress—effectively illustrates how technological advancement creates new forms of valuable work. Today's jobs would seem frivolous to our ancestors, yet they generate unprecedented prosperity and meaning.

That tracks with how we think about building AI: aim it at augmenting human capabilities rather than replacing them outright. As we've explored in the paradox of automation, meaningful work evolves alongside technology instead of disappearing under it.