- By Prateek Levi
- Thu, 24 Jul 2025 03:23 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has offered one of his starkest assessments yet on how artificial intelligence is reshaping industries, warning that entire job categories are likely to vanish soon.
Speaking at the Federal Reserve’s Capital Framework for Large Banks conference in Washington, Altman pointed directly at customer support roles as being on the verge of elimination. He said that AI systems are already handling customer service tasks faster, more accurately, and more efficiently than human agents.
He noted that when people reach out for support now, they are often interacting with AI tools that manage the task without the delays, errors, or handovers that typically characterise human-run service departments. Altman said this transformation has significantly progressed, with AI removing the need for traditional phone trees and multiple transfers.
The discussion then moved into the healthcare sector. Altman said AI is now outperforming most doctors globally when it comes to diagnosing medical problems. Despite this, he admitted to feeling personally uneasy about relying solely on AI for healthcare decisions. He acknowledged that while ChatGPT can deliver highly accurate diagnoses, he still believes a human doctor should remain part of the process and would not entrust his health entirely to a machine.
Altman’s comments came during a visit to Washington that aligned with the Trump administration’s new “AI action plan”, which pushes for relaxed regulation and greater investment in datacentres. This marks a notable shift from the Biden-era focus on AI oversight and ethical safeguards towards an emphasis on speed and global competition—especially in relation to China.
During his talk, Altman also expressed concern about how AI could be weaponised. He warned that hostile governments could use advanced AI tools to target financial infrastructure, calling it a scenario that worries him deeply. He also pointed to the emerging threat of voice cloning, warning that some financial institutions still accept voiceprint authentication, which could be exploited for identity theft and financial fraud.
As part of its expanding role in AI policy, OpenAI also confirmed it plans to open a Washington office in 2026.
AI Is Already Transforming Entire Industries
While much of the public still sees AI as a future concern, it is already having a measurable impact across sectors. In finance, AI systems are automating customer interactions, managing risk analysis, and detecting fraud in real time. In healthcare, diagnostic tools powered by AI are helping professionals identify medical issues faster and with greater precision.
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Retailers are increasingly using AI to track consumer behaviour, manage inventory, and personalise shopping experiences. Manufacturing operations are benefiting from predictive algorithms that monitor equipment and streamline supply chains. Even creative industries like media and advertising are now using AI to generate content, customise recommendations, and analyse audience preferences.
Altman’s warning lands at a time when AI is no longer a concept of the future—it’s already reshaping the present.