At Dev Day 2025, we spoke with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who openly discussed the future of artificial intelligence, AGI, work without traditional labor, and how agents are reshaping our understanding of jobs.
Altman emphasizes that AI is now moving from a phase of “copying human knowledge” to a phase of “new discovery,” where scientists across fields are using models for real scientific achievements. “This is the moment when AI not only understands the world, but actively changes it,” he says.
Regarding the future of work, Altman believes that “work in the future could look much less like work.” He warns that the rapid shift to agent systems could also change the very “social contract” between people, employers, and the state.
OpenAI’s Codex, Altman notes, could soon autonomously handle an entire week’s worth of tasks, and the current progress in agents that plan and execute tasks over time is described as “disorientingly fast.”
Looking ahead, Altman envisions the possibility of a “startup with no people, yet worth billions,” created with just a single prompt. It sounds futuristic, but in a world where agents can create, launch, and monetize products, it might not be far off.
Despite all this technological optimism, Altman remains realistic: he believes humanity will find a way to adapt, just as it has every time technology has changed the rules of the game.
In brief: Tech World Highlights:
- OpenAI plans to build a massive 1-gigawatt data center and open an office in India as part of its global “Stargate” infrastructure initiative, reports Bloomberg.
- California-based startup Flip, which reached a $1 billion valuation in 2024 thanks to a TikTok-like shopping and review app, has now shut down operations.
- California biotech company Exelixis, specializing in anti-cancer therapies, is laying off 130 employees, consolidating operations, and closing its Pennsylvania facility.
- Novo Nordisk secured global rights to self-replicating RNA technology from Replicate Bioscience in a deal worth up to $550 million, targeting new therapies for obesity and diabetes.
- Finland launched the world’s largest industrial sand battery in Pornainen, replacing a wood chip facility and aiming to reduce local heating emissions by up to 70%.
AI Trending Tools:
- GPT-5 – New personality update with a “warmer” and “friendlier” approach.
- Kaggle Game Arena – Benchmark test for evaluating LLMs in constantly evolving strategy games.
- ChatGPT – OpenAI’s AI assistant, now with tools to detect signs of mental distress.
