Openai CEO Sam Altman said he is “confident” that customer service work is one of the first to replace AI. Speaking about the Tucker Carlson show, he said: “We are confident that a lot of current customer support that happens on phones and computers will lose their jobs and AI will do better.”
Altman also pointed out that programmers could be next, adding his controversial view that job sales could occur much faster than usual.
Job Sam Altman says he's at the most risk
Here are some important careers that Altman believes could lose if AI goes further:
- Customer Service/Support Agent (phone or computer based)
- Programmer/Software Engineer (Routine Coding Task)
He contrasted these with jobs that are unlikely to disappear:
- The role of care that requires human empathy, such as nursing and healthcare providers.
- A role that requires security and emotional connection
Why these jobs feel vulnerable
In an interview, Altman explained that many parts of customer support are repetitive and follow predictable scripts that allow AI to automate more efficiently.
He also said that while many believe that “if you're good, you make it,” the scale and speed of change may be much larger than past job changes.
He does not dismiss all roles in programming, but suggests some of the substandard roles in the creative or judgment tasks.
Meanwhile, many industry watchers warn that replacing human agents entirely is more difficult than they look. Companies like Gartner's Research have warned that by 2027, about half of organizations planning to cut support staff at scale will abandon or reduce those plans.
Why this is important for job seekers and students
These insights are important when you are building a career plan.
- It emphasizes the skills that humans do their best, such as empathy, ethics, and judgment. A career with human connections is safer.
- Unfold the toolkit. Even programmers need to build non-routine problem-solving, design thinking, user experience, and systems thinking.
- Maintain adaptability. Continuous learning, role shifting, and adoption of hybrid tasks (AI + Human) is more resilient.
AI doesn't erase everything, but redraw the lines
Sam Altman's predictions are not a vigilator. It's a signal. Customer support and everyday programming are under pressure. Work based on human warmth, care and emotional nuances will not disappear.
For students, professionals, and education policy makers: Lessons are clear. Things that AI can't easily replicate – Build connections, creativity, judgment, and more. Therefore, we will not lose if the job market changes.
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