Sam Altman Urges Students to Build AI-Native Companies

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman urged young workers and students to embrace artificial intelligence to launch new businesses rather than following outdated career playbooks. During an interview with Stanford University's Graduate School of Business, Altman stated that AI will perform many current tasks better, cheaper, and faster, potentially replacing wide swaths of existing jobs.

Altman expressed "chronic disappointment" with MBA students who pursue trends from five years ago instead of innovating with new technology. He suggested that the current period of disruption creates a rare window for entrepreneurs to build companies that could eventually surpass OpenAI in size and importance.

Other investors echoed this sentiment. Alexis Ohanian argued that founders who integrate AI into their organization's DNA from the start possess a competitive advantage over incumbents. Mark Cuban characterized AI as essential leverage, stating that the most successful entrepreneurs will be those who understand how to properly use the technology.