Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is at the forefront of this transformation. In a June 2025 interview, Altman shared bold predictions about AI’s impact on jobs, spotlighting the imminent rise of humanoid robots. These advancements, he argues, will disrupt employment but also spark new opportunities. From the ambitious $500 billion Stargate project to AI-driven scientific breakthroughs, Altman’s insights offer a glimpse into a rapidly evolving future. This article explores his vision, the implications for workers, and the broader AI landscape in 2025.
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Sam Altman’s Bold AI Predictions
The AI revolution is accelerating, and few voices carry as much weight as Sam Altman’s. As the CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, Altman has driven AI’s mainstream adoption, with over 500 million users engaging with its tools in 2025. In a recent interview on Bloomberg’s “The Circuit with Emily Chang,” Altman outlined a transformative future where AI and humanoid robots redefine work. His remarks, aired on June 12, 2025, highlight both the challenges and opportunities of this technological shift, urging society to prepare for rapid change.
Altman’s perspective is grounded in history but tempered by the unprecedented pace of AI development. He compares today’s disruptions to past technological revolutions, like the steam engine or internet, which reshaped economies. However, AI’s speed—evidenced by ChatGPT’s growth from 100 million to 500 million users in two years—sets it apart. This article delves into Altman’s predictions, from job market shifts to infrastructure projects, and examines their implications for 2025 and beyond.
AI and Humanoid Robots: Job Impacts
Altman foresees AI transforming the job landscape, with humanoid robots playing a pivotal role. Unlike traditional automation, which targets repetitive tasks, humanoid robots could perform complex physical and cognitive roles, from caregiving to construction. “I don’t think the world has had the humanoid robots moment yet, and I don’t think that’s very far away,” Altman told Bloomberg, suggesting breakthroughs are imminent. Companies like Figure AI, backed by OpenAI, are developing robots that mimic human dexterity, with prototypes expected in 2026.
While some jobs will disappear, Altman is optimistic about new opportunities. He cites historical patterns where technology eliminates roles but creates others, like the rise of web developers after the internet. A 2024 McKinsey report predicts AI could displace 30% of current jobs by 2030 but generate roles in AI maintenance, ethics, and creative industries. However, the rapid pace—potentially automating 15% of tasks in two years—poses challenges, particularly for low-skill workers. Altman’s vision calls for proactive reskilling to bridge this gap.
The Stargate Project Unveiled
A cornerstone of Altman’s strategy is the Stargate project, a $500 billion initiative announced in January 2025 by U.S. President Donald Trump. This collaboration, involving OpenAI, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, and others, aims to build AI infrastructure, including data centers and energy plants, across the U.S. The first facility, under construction in Texas, will train OpenAI’s next-generation models, like GPT-5, expected to launch in 2026. Altman revealed that the project’s name, inspired by sci-fi, reflects the circular layout of early data centers.
The project addresses a critical bottleneck: compute power. Altman noted that user demand for AI, such as generating Ghibli-style images, has surged, straining existing infrastructure. In 2025, OpenAI borrowed research GPUs to meet inference needs, slowing other features. Stargate’s scale—equivalent to 10% of U.S. annual infrastructure spending—aims to ensure capacity for future demand, supporting innovations like real-time AI agents and robot training. However, its $500 billion cost raises questions about financial sustainability.
AI’s Role in Scientific Discovery
Altman is particularly excited about AI’s potential to accelerate scientific progress. He predicts 2025 will see AI agents handling routine tasks, while 2026 could bring breakthroughs in fields like physics or materials science. “I’m hopeful that 2026 will be a big year of new scientific progress,” he said, envisioning AI enabling discoveries akin to the atomic bomb’s development post-1905 physics advancements. OpenAI’s partnerships with research institutions, like MIT’s AI Lab, are already yielding results, such as AI-designed proteins for cancer treatment.
This acceleration could transform industries. For instance, AI-driven battery research could double electric vehicle range by 2027, per a Stanford study. Altman’s caution—that predicting specifics is impossible—reflects the unpredictable nature of discovery. Yet, the prospect of AI solving long-standing challenges, like fusion energy or space colonization, underscores its potential to create high-skill jobs, from researchers to engineers, offsetting automation’s impact.
OpenAI’s Partnership with Microsoft
OpenAI’s relationship with Microsoft, its largest investor, is central to its growth. Microsoft has committed $13 billion to OpenAI since 2019, providing cloud infrastructure via Azure. However, Altman clarified that Stargate’s scale exceeds what any single company, including Microsoft, can deliver. “We do get a lot of great stuff from Microsoft, but this is more than any one company can handle,” he said, emphasizing the need for a consortium approach involving Nvidia’s GPUs and Oracle’s data centers.
The partnership has faced scrutiny, with competitors like Anthropic questioning Microsoft’s influence. Yet, Altman remains bullish, noting that Microsoft’s compute supports OpenAI’s ability to scale ChatGPT and develop models like o3. The collaboration also fuels Stargate, with Microsoft contributing $100 billion to the project. This synergy positions OpenAI to meet surging demand, but Altman’s acknowledgment of shared responsibilities highlights the complexity of AI infrastructure.
Addressing DeepSeek’s Breakthrough
Altman also addressed DeepSeek, a Chinese AI firm praised for cost-efficient large language models (LLMs). In 2024, DeepSeek’s R-1 model matched GPT-4o’s performance at a fraction of the cost, prompting OpenAI to allege technology “distillation”—a process of replicating models using outputs. Altman downplayed DeepSeek’s innovation, stating, “I don’t think they figured out something way more efficient than what we figured out.” He emphasized OpenAI’s focus on improving chips, algorithms, and energy efficiency.
This rivalry underscores the competitive AI landscape, with global firms racing to optimize LLMs. DeepSeek’s approach, leveraging open-source data, contrasts with OpenAI’s proprietary models, raising questions about intellectual property. Altman’s confidence in OpenAI’s infrastructure and algorithmic advancements suggests a strategy to maintain leadership, but DeepSeek’s cost advantage could challenge market dynamics, especially in emerging economies.
AI Policy and Trump’s Influence
Altman expressed optimism about U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election, citing his grasp of AI’s importance. “One thing that’s really impressed me about President Trump is his ability to understand the whole industry,” Altman said, noting Trump’s role in shaping AI policy. The Stargate project, endorsed by Trump, reflects this influence, aiming to bolster U.S. AI leadership amid competition with China, where AI investment reached $70 billion in 2024.
However, Trump’s deregulation agenda, including a proposed 10-year pause on state AI laws, worries some experts. A 2025 Brookings report warns that lax oversight could exacerbate risks like AI bias or job displacement. Altman’s call for balanced policy—supporting innovation while ensuring safety—aligns with industry efforts like the AI Safety Institute, but navigating political priorities will be critical to realizing Stargate’s and AI’s potential.
What’s Next for AI and Work
Altman’s vision for 2025 and beyond is one of transformation, with humanoid robots and AI agents reshaping work and science. The Stargate project, if successful, could cement U.S. dominance in AI, creating jobs in construction, engineering, and data science. Yet, challenges remain: reskilling workers, managing infrastructure costs, and addressing ethical concerns. A 2025 Pew survey found 58% of Americans fear AI-driven job losses, highlighting the need for proactive measures like training programs and income support.
For individuals, adapting means embracing AI tools and lifelong learning. Roles leveraging human creativity, like storytelling or strategy, will thrive alongside robots, per a 2024 LinkedIn report. Companies must invest in human-AI collaboration, as seen in Amazon’s AI training for 100,000 workers. As Altman’s predictions unfold, collaboration between governments, businesses, and workers will determine whether AI’s “humanoid robots moment” empowers or disrupts society.
AI and Humanoid Robots: Sam Altman’s Vision for Jobs in 2025
