Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, admitted during a live stream for developers that artificial intelligence is profoundly changing the company's staffing strategy. Altman clearly stated that due to AI significantly improving productivity, OpenAI plans to greatly slow down its hiring pace, pursuing the goal of "accomplishing more work with fewer people."
Altman pointed out that the presence of AI tools has changed the logic of expanding employee numbers. He warned companies not to blindly hire in large numbers, to avoid the difficult situation of having to communicate layoffs when they realize AI can handle most tasks. Although the expansion has slowed, Altman emphasized that the company has not implemented a hiring freeze and will continue to recruit key talents, and currently AI is far from replacing human employees completely.
This statement comes as the U.S. labor market shows signs of weakness. Data shows that the unemployment rate in the U.S. has risen to a four-year high by the end of 2025, and the number of job openings has dropped significantly from its peak. Especially for the younger group aged 20 to 24, the unemployment rate has reached 9.2%, becoming a major hit in the trend of slowing hiring.
Key points:
Productivity over scale: Altman believes that using AI to reduce reliance on personnel and increase output is the correct path for OpenAI at this stage.
Rational hiring advice: He calls on companies to be restrained and avoid later structural layoffs caused by AI replacement due to excessive hiring.
Tough employment environment: The rising unemployment rate and sluggish hiring across the country are intertwined, and the employment barriers for young laborers are further increasing with the spread of AI.
