Sam Altman Says AI May Not Shorten Workweeks Soon
By akshita pidiha · Source: industrywired · 2026-07-28
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman explained that artificial intelligence may not lead to shorter workweeks for most people. Early expectation was that AI would reduce working hours. He said human ambition, competition, and the desire to create new things could keep people working longer even as technology improves productivity. Altman shared his views during an interview on the Relentless podcast with Ti Morse. He said technology has repeatedly promised more leisure time, yet society has continued finding new goals and challenges. My first interview with @sama , Co-Founder of @OpenAI . 0:04 How to start a startup 3:30 Trusting exponentials 4:57 Operating in chaotic environments 6:12 Learning to enjoy painful experiences 8:03 Creating abundant intelligence 11:15 Keeping core suppliers on OpenAI’s timelines... pic.twitter.com/vPnmWfPwVe — Ti Morse (@ti_morse) July 25, 2026 AI Could Change Work, But Not Ambition Altman said modern society already enjoys more free time and a higher quality of life compared with previous generations. However, he believes people continue to seek new achievements, experiences and opportunities. “Technology, for a long time, has been promising people that they're going to work less and they're going to have all this leisure,” Altman said. “But somehow we never get the promise of the four-hour workweek at mass scale in society,” he added. “And I don't expect AI to change that.” He said people often compare their progress with others, creating a constant push to achieve more. He thinks the desire to contribute, create and feel useful could continue even in a future where AI handles a large share of current jobs. “I think we're all going to be much busier than we thought we were supposed to be in a post- superintelligence world. We're still going to complain about it, but secretly we're going to be happy,” Altman said. Uncertainty Around Future Work Culture The debate over AI and working hours has also gained attention from other leaders. US Senator Bernie Sanders has argued that productivity gains from AI should give workers more personal time instead of adding more responsibilities. Several countries, including the UK, France, Japan and Germany, have tested four-day workweeks without cutting salaries. Global research on these trials found improvements in worker wellbeing while company performance stayed stable or increased. Altman believes human motivation may continue driving people towards more work and new challenges.
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