Sam Altman says the quiet part out loud, confirming some companies are ‘AI washing’ by blaming unrelated layoffs on the technology

Fortune

by Sasha Rogelberg

February 19, 2026

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Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has called out companies for "AI washing," a practice where businesses falsely attribute layoffs to AI advancements when they are likely due to unrelated factors like poor financial decisions or economic conditions. During an interview at the India AI Impact Summit, Altman acknowledged that while some job displacement from AI is inevitable, he also emphasized that many companies are using the technology as a scapegoat for their own shortcomings. This trend has gained traction as conflicting data on AI's impact on employment continues to emerge. Recent studies suggest little evidence of AI-driven job losses so far. A report by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that most executives surveyed do not believe AI has significantly affected employment over the past three years, despite widespread fears about automation. Meanwhile, Klarna CEO Sebastian Siemiatkowski recently hinted at plans to reduce his workforce by one-third by 2030, citing AI acceleration as a factor. However, critics argue this narrative may be driven more by economic pressures than actual AI-related job losses. Altman and other tech leaders agree that while AI will likely disrupt certain jobs in the coming years, it will also create new roles to complement the technology. This view aligns with historical patterns of technological revolutions, where new industries emerge alongside workforce shifts. However, current data from sources like the Yale Budget Lab shows no significant changes in job displacement or unemployment rates tied to AI since the advent of ChatGPT. The phenomenon of AI washing reflects broader tensions among business leaders and investors. As pressure mounts to justify heavy investments in AI, some companies are resorting to exaggerated claims about its impact on employment. This misdirection could mislead employees, investors, and policymakers about the true drivers behind workforce reductions. Experts like Torsten Slok, chief economist at Apollo Global Management, draw parallels between

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Originally published on Fortune on 2/19/2026