In a wide-ranging interview with Welt Editor-in-Chief Jan Philipp Burgard at the Axel Springer Award ceremony in Berlin, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared his vision for the future of artificial intelligence, emphasizing rapid progress, ethical responsibility, and transformative potential. Altman expressed strong confidence that artificial general intelligence (AGI)—systems surpassing human capabilities across all domains—will emerge within the next decade, possibly by 2030. He noted that GPT-5 already exceeds his own abilities in many areas, though it still lacks human-like intuition and common sense. He expects AI to soon enable scientific discoveries beyond human reach, marking a shift toward true superintelligence. When asked about job displacement, Altman reframed the question from jobs to tasks. He estimated that 30 to 40 percent of current economic tasks could be automated by AI in the near future. While some roles will vanish, new ones will emerge, driven by human creativity and adaptability. He advised parents to focus on teaching their children the meta-skill of learning how to learn, along with emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to understand human needs—qualities he believes AI cannot replicate. Addressing concerns about AI safety and existential risk, Altman rejected the notion that superintelligent AI would inevitably view humans as insignificant, likening it to ants. Instead, he cited co-founder Ilya Sutskever’s vision of AGI as a “loving parent”—a tool aligned with human values. He stressed that even without intent, powerful AI can have unintended consequences, making alignment with human ethics critical. He acknowledged past missteps but defended OpenAI’s mission, emphasizing its nonprofit roots and commitment to safety, broad benefit, and responsible deployment. On hardware, Altman revealed that OpenAI is developing a new family of devices, inspired by Apple’s design sensibility, though details remain scarce. He described a future where AI deeply integrates into daily computing—handling complex, multi-step tasks through natural language commands, reducing the need to juggle multiple apps or respond to constant notifications. The goal is to reimagine how people work, play, and live, making computers truly intuitive and proactive. Regarding politics, Altman noted that while the tech industry has historically leaned liberal, he supports President Trump’s pro-business policies, particularly those easing infrastructure development and boosting AI investment in the U.S. He sees a more favorable environment for innovation but stopped short of endorsing political figures. On the idea of AI governing nations, Altman dismissed it as unrealistic for now. He believes leaders will increasingly use AI to inform decisions, but humans must remain accountable and in control. “People still want a human signing off,” he said. Finally, when asked if he uses ChatGPT for relationship advice, Altman admitted he doesn’t—though many others do. He remains cautious about personal use, despite the tool’s popularity. Overall, Altman’s message is one of cautious optimism: AI is a revolutionary force that demands responsible stewardship, but its potential to accelerate discovery, enhance human capability, and improve lives is immense. The challenge lies not in stopping progress, but in guiding it wisely.