OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says he’s fully prepared, even proud, at the idea of being replaced by an AI system. In a recent chat on the Conversations with Tyler podcast, he openly discussed the possibility of an AI taking over his role, calling it a natural progression as artificial intelligence evolves. Altman added that he regularly thinks about what it would take for a machine to outperform him as CEO. He believes the shift may not be far away, suggesting that AI could run a major department at OpenAI within “single-digit years,” and that the company should lead by example in this frontier.
Sam Altman says he wants an AI to take over as OpenAI’s CEO.
On the Conversations with Tyler podcast, he claimed entire departments could be run by AI within single-digit years, even if society still trusts humans more.
He also spoke about how an AI model could subtly and… pic.twitter.com/ttihT45Q1W
— AI In Practice (@AIinPractice) November 7, 2025
Sam Altman has long hinted at a life beyond OpenAI, often describing his desire to retreat to his farm, where he once spent time driving tractors and picking produce. Despite owning multiple high-value properties in San Francisco, Napa, and Hawaii, he says the simplicity of farm life brings him far more joy than the Silicon Valley grind.
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His recent comments reflect a broader belief that AI will reshape leadership and labour itself. Altman has repeatedly said AI will disrupt jobs in the short term but will eventually create new forms of work, just as past technological revolutions did. He argues that our idea of “real work” keeps evolving, noting that even a farmer from decades ago might not recognize today’s office roles as true labour.
Sam Altman Is Looking Forward to When AI Takes His CEO Job So He Can Be a Full-Time Farmer https://t.co/pATCgRLXAP
— Brent Thomas (@brentthomas11) October 9, 2025
Across industries, companies are already reorganising around AI. IBM has automated parts of its HR department and redirected workers to sales and software roles, while Amazon and Microsoft have executed large-scale layoffs to streamline operations for an AI-first future. Leaders like IBM’s Arvind Krishna maintain that AI will augment rather than entirely replace employees, even as some predictions remain more aggressive.
Meanwhile, experts such as Geoffrey Hinton warn that AI’s rapid rise could widen the gap between tech billionaires and workers. Elon Musk has offered an even more extreme outlook, suggesting a future where traditional jobs may disappear entirely and work becomes optional. Overall, AI may not eliminate jobs overnight, but it is undeniably reshaping industries, economies, and the definition of work itself, and the pace of change will depend on how society responds.
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