Sam Altman finds manual email sorting more productive than AI

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that he finds manually sorting through his email inbox to be a more productive feeling activity, despite the availability of AI tools like Codex that could perform the task more efficiently. In an episode of David Senra's podcast, Altman discussed how he defaults to manual email processing, even when aware that AI could handle routine tasks such as moving information between applications or managing to-do lists.

Altman described this behavior as psychologically inconsistent, noting that while he would not consciously choose to work this way, there is an ingrained notion that such tasks equate to being productive. He suggested that the development of better AI products could make the switch to automated solutions more seamless for users.

This sentiment is shared by other leaders who are also seeking to regain control over their daily schedules from email. Klaviyo CEO Andrew Bialecki has adopted an AI-driven approach, building scripts to receive consolidated daily summaries. Siemens CEO Roland Busch manages a high volume of emails by keeping his inbox below a certain threshold and using brief replies, sometimes dictating longer responses.

Altman's remarks come as OpenAI prepares for a potential public offering, a process that has reportedly been delayed until next year. He noted that currently, people are often 'straddling these two worlds,' using traditional methods like manual email sorting alongside experimenting with AI tools designed for similar functions.