OpenAI, Anthropic CEOs walk back AI job warnings as IPOs loom - HR Executive

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated that he was 'pretty wrong' about artificial intelligence's impact on white-collar employment, walking back previous warnings about widespread job displacement. Altman made the comments at a Commonwealth Bank of Australia event. The article also notes that Anthropic's CEO has similarly moderated predictions regarding AI's effect on the labour market, as both companies prepare for initial public offerings.

Forrester's Predictions 2026 report found that many companies attributing job cuts to AI do not have mature AI systems ready to replace those workers. The report suggests that some layoffs justified by AI adoption are premature, as the technology is not yet capable of handling the displaced roles.

The timing of the CEOs' revised statements coincides with upcoming IPOs for both OpenAI and Anthropic. According to the article, the companies may be seeking to reassure investors and regulators about the pace and scale of AI's impact on employment. The piece presents this as a shift from earlier, more alarmist rhetoric used by the same executives when discussing AI's potential to disrupt white-collar work.