OpenAI’s chief executive Sam Altman used a CNBC‑TV18 interview to call out a growing trend he dubbed “AI washing.” Companies, he said, are quick to blame recent workforce reductions on artificial intelligence, even when the cuts would have happened anyway. Altman’s criticism comes amid a wave of layoffs that has already affected over 92,000 tech employees this year, according to data from layoffs.fyi.

“Many firms are pointing to AI as the cause of job cuts that would have occurred regardless,” Altman told the broadcaster. “That’s a form of washing—using AI to make a decision look forward‑looking while obscuring other factors.” He stressed that AI is not a universal excuse, but he also refused to downplay the technology’s disruptive potential.

The OpenAI leader noted that the early stages of AI adoption still leave the true impact on employment largely unclear. “We’re in the early years of AI deployment,” he said. “The real effects will become palpable in the next few years, and we’ll start to see which roles truly disappear.”

Altman did not dismiss the possibility that AI will displace certain jobs. He recalled a 2025 statement in which he warned that “whole classes of jobs” could vanish as machines become more capable. Yet he balanced that warning with optimism, insisting that the rapid expansion of AI‑driven productivity will also generate new opportunities. “We’ll find new kinds of jobs,” he asserted, suggesting that the net impact on the labor market could be neutral or even positive.

Investors appear to be listening. Altman observed that companies may benefit from framing layoffs as AI‑related because it signals a commitment to future‑oriented technology. “Investors react to many signals, and positioning a cut as AI‑driven can be a way to show forward thinking,” he explained. The practice, however, risks eroding trust if the narrative proves misleading.

Industry analysts have noted that AI‑enabled efficiency gains can reduce headcount in areas such as customer support, data entry, and basic content creation. At the same time, the technology spurs demand for new skill sets—prompt engineering, AI safety, and model training, to name a few. Altman’s view aligns with a broader belief that automation reshapes, rather than simply eliminates, work.

While the debate continues, Altman urged policymakers and business leaders to approach AI’s labor impact with nuance. “We’ll figure out new things to do and new things to want,” he said, echoing a historical perspective that technological revolutions ultimately expand the frontier of human activity.

As the tech sector grapples with a record number of layoffs, Altman’s call for honesty about AI’s role may prompt companies to reassess how they communicate workforce decisions. The conversation underscores a critical juncture: balancing the promise of AI‑driven growth with the reality of job displacement, and ensuring that the narrative reflects both.

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