Sam Altman says not even the CEO’s job is safe from AI as it will soon perform the work better than ‘certainly me’

Fortune

by Jake Angelo

February 19, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has issued a stark warning about the potential impact of AI superintelligence on leadership roles, including his own position as CEO. Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Altman admitted that AI could soon outperform even the most powerful executives in the world, including himself. He emphasized that AI superintelligence is likely just a few years away and could surpass human capabilities in managing major companies. This sentiment aligns with other tech leaders, such as Microsoft’s Mustafa Suleyman, who predict that white-collar jobs could be fully automated within 18 months. The potential disruption to white-collar work has sparked widespread concern among professionals and business leaders. AI is already beginning to transform the C-suite by streamlining operations, cutting down on middle management, and merging departments in what Altman describes as a "great flattening." For example, at Moderna, human resources and technology functions are being integrated under a single chief officer as automation becomes more prevalent. While AI has shown modest productivity gains so far, with a 2025 Thomson Reuters analysis indicating incremental improvements rather than mass layoffs, worker anxiety remains high. According to a Udacity study, 61% of white-collar workers believe their jobs could be replaced by AI within the next couple of years. Altman’s remarks come as part of a broader discussion about the future of work and the potential for AI to reshape industries. He believes that by the end of 2028, more of the world’s intellectual capacity will reside in data centers than outside of them. While this shift could lead to significant job displacement, Altman remains optimistic about AI’s potential to drive human progress. He sees AI as the latest technological advancement in a long line of innovations that have changed how we live and work. "We always find new and better things to do," he said, emphasizing that humanity will continue to evolve by leveraging creativity, competition, and innovation. For business leaders, Altman’s warnings and predictions carry significant weight. The rapid development of AI superintelligence could disrupt traditional leadership structures and force companies to adapt to a new reality where human expertise must complement, rather than compete with, machine learning algorithms. This shift not only challenges the future of white-collar work but also raises questions about how businesses will navigate an era where AI-driven decision-making becomes increasingly dominant. As Altman suggests, the key will be to harness AI’s power while continuing to prioritize human creativity and ingenuity in a rapidly changing world. In summary, Sam Altman’s remarks highlight the transformative potential of AI superintelligence and its

Verticals

businessfinance

Originally published on Fortune on 2/19/2026