N※N

Altman Addresses AI Workforce Concerns in Chennai

  //science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. -addresses-ai-workforce-concerns-in-chennai.html
  Published in Science and Technology on Thursday, February 19th 2026 at 6:43 GMT by The New Indian Express
      Locales: UNITED STATES, INDIA

Chennai, India - February 19th, 2026 - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman today addressed concerns surrounding the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its impact on the global workforce, speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) 'AI Day' event in Chennai. While acknowledging the unavoidable disruption AI will bring to numerous industries, Altman offered a cautiously optimistic perspective, emphasizing the potential for entirely new job categories and economic growth fueled by this transformative technology.

Altman's statements arrive at a crucial juncture. For the past few years, fears of widespread job displacement due to automation have steadily increased. Recent advancements in generative AI, capable of performing tasks previously exclusive to human intellect - from writing code and creating art to providing customer service and analyzing complex data - have amplified these anxieties. A 2025 report by the World Economic Forum estimated that over 85 million jobs could be displaced by 2027, while simultaneously creating 97 million new roles. The net gain, while positive, doesn't necessarily mean a seamless transition for those whose jobs become obsolete.

"AI is going to disrupt jobs. It is unavoidable," Altman stated plainly, echoing a sentiment increasingly common among tech leaders. However, he immediately followed this acknowledgment with a critical counterpoint: "However, AI will also create new opportunities and industries we cannot even imagine today." This isn't simply a matter of hoping for the best, but a conviction based on historical precedent. Technological revolutions - from the industrial revolution to the digital age - have consistently led to job losses in some sectors, but have ultimately created more jobs than they destroyed, albeit often requiring different skill sets.

But the pace of change with AI feels different. The speed at which AI models are improving, and the breadth of tasks they can now handle, is unprecedented. This creates a unique challenge for governments and educational institutions. The traditional model of education - where individuals learn skills for a lifetime career - is becoming increasingly insufficient. The need for continuous learning, reskilling, and upskilling is paramount.

"We need policies that help people adapt to these changes, including lifelong learning and reskilling programs," Altman urged. He highlighted the importance of proactive government intervention, not as a means of stifling innovation, but as a mechanism for mitigating the negative consequences of disruption and ensuring a just transition for the workforce. Several nations are already experimenting with universal basic income programs and subsidized retraining initiatives, though the effectiveness of these programs remains a subject of ongoing debate. India, with its large and rapidly growing workforce, faces a particularly significant challenge - and opportunity - in this regard.

Altman also stressed OpenAI's commitment to "responsible AI development." This goes beyond simply creating powerful AI models; it encompasses addressing critical ethical concerns such as algorithmic bias. AI models are trained on vast datasets, and if those datasets reflect existing societal biases, the AI will perpetuate - and potentially amplify - those biases. This can lead to discriminatory outcomes in areas such as hiring, loan applications, and even criminal justice. OpenAI, and other leading AI developers, are actively working on techniques to mitigate these biases and ensure fairness and equity in AI systems.

Beyond the direct impact on jobs, AI is also poised to reshape industries in fundamental ways. In healthcare, AI-powered diagnostic tools are already improving accuracy and speed, while personalized medicine promises to revolutionize treatment. In manufacturing, robots and AI-driven automation are increasing efficiency and reducing costs. In finance, AI algorithms are being used for fraud detection, risk management, and algorithmic trading. These transformations will require a workforce that is not only technically skilled but also adaptable, creative, and capable of collaborating with AI systems.

Altman concluded with a call to action: "It's about embracing change and preparing for the future." The future, according to Altman, isn't about humans versus AI, but humans with AI. The key to navigating this new era lies in proactively addressing the challenges, investing in education and reskilling, and ensuring that the benefits of AI are shared broadly across society. The question isn't if AI will change the world, but how we will shape that change.