OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns ‘AI washing’ is real, but tech-related job displacement is on the way

Sam Altman, the chief executive of OpenAI, warned that some companies are engaging in a practice he called "AI washing," where they falsely attribute layoffs to artificial intelligence. Altman also acknowledged that genuine displacement of jobs by AI technology is taking place. The distinction between real and performative use of AI as a justification is central to his comment.

Altman did not specify which companies are engaging in AI washing, but the term has gained traction in business circles, similar to "greenwashing." He noted that the phenomenon is real and warrants attention. At the same time, he confirmed that artificial intelligence is indeed replacing human workers in certain roles. This dual message — caution about false claims and acknowledgment of real impact — provides a nuanced view of AI's effect on employment.

His perspective carries weight in discussions about the future of work. By calling out AI washing, he suggests that some employers may be using AI as a convenient excuse for layoffs driven by other business factors. His admission that real displacement is occurring reinforces predictions about automation's role in reshaping the labor market. The comments come amid a broader wave of tech industry job cuts.