Sam Altman: AI adoption is slower than expected

Altman suggested that ingrained habits and the difficulty of changing established behaviors are key reasons for this slower integration, likening the situation to consumers continuing to frequent Blockbuster video stores even after Netflix introduced its DVD-by-mail service. He noted that this slower adoption cycle could be viewed as positive in many respects.

His comments offer a more tempered perspective compared to earlier predictions from AI labs, including OpenAI and Anthropic, which had forecast significant economic transformation and job displacement due to AI. For instance, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei had suggested AI could eliminate half of entry-level white-collar jobs within five years. The initial excitement surrounding generative AI had led to significant market impacts, with some software-as-a-service stocks declining as investors anticipated competition from AI tools capable of creating bespoke operating systems, a phenomenon dubbed the "SaaSpocalypse."

Altman also shared personal anecdotes, mentioning that he still manually manages his email inbox despite OpenAI's capabilities, such as Codex, which could automate more of the task. OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.