Sam Altman isn’t exactly known for keeping his opinions quiet, and in his latest sit-down in Berlin, the OpenAI CEO tossed out a prediction that feels straight out of science fiction: by 2030, artificial intelligence could surpass human intelligence in nearly every way he said during the event.

Now, whether you see that as thrilling or terrifying depends on where you stand.

Altman argued that progress has been nothing short of “steep” — from ChatGPT’s release just three years ago to today’s more advanced systems.

He even suggested that by 2026, we might see AI pulling off scientific discoveries humans can’t dream up alone.

Sounds wild, right? But when you look at the pace of breakthroughs, it’s hard to brush off.

And here’s the kicker: while Altman’s optimistic about the alignment of AI with human values, there’s no shortage of skeptics.

Some critics, like Eliezer Yudkowsky, go so far as to warn that a superintelligent AI might treat humans the way we treat ants — with indifference at best, destruction at worst as one report described.

Personally, I think that metaphor overshoots, but the underlying unease feels very real.

Beyond the philosophical dread, the practical side is unavoidable. Altman admitted jobs will shift, fast.

He doesn’t focus on careers vanishing wholesale but on tasks changing, with 30–40% potentially handled by AI in the “not very distant future.”

That’s a lot of disruption, even if new jobs crop up in return. It reminds me of what we’ve already seen in industries like entertainment, where AI-generated voices have sparked outrage and even lawsuits highlighted in a recent gaming controversy.

Of course, there are lighter examples too. Think about AI being used to bring back voices from the past — Whitney Houston’s vocals, for instance, recently graced a symphonic performance thanks to machine learning wizardry as covered in a music feature.

On one hand, it’s a goosebump moment; on the other, it shows just how blurred the lines of human uniqueness are becoming.

But here’s where I land: Altman’s right that humans still have something AI can’t mimic — empathy, the messy joy of being with other people, our oddball creativity. Maybe machines can out-compute us, but can they ever out-feel us?

That’s the million-dollar question. And until 2030 rolls around, it might be wise to keep both excitement and caution in equal measure.

Would you bet on AI becoming superintelligent in just five years? Or does this sound like yet another tech CEO hyping the future to keep us hooked?

Origianl Creator: Mark Borg
Original Link: https://ai2people.com/by-2030-ai-could-outthink-us-all-sam-altmans-bold-prediction/
Originally Posted: Fri, 26 Sep 2025 11:19:16 +0000