'Get really good at using AI tools': Sam Altman
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has a message for young professionals: just knowing how to code isn't enough anymore.
On the Stratechery podcast, he said, "The obvious tactical thing is just get really good at using AI tools," calling it the new must-have skill, much like coding was when he graduated from high school.
Altman's advice echoed by industry leaders
Ahead of the AI Impact Summit 2026, Altman noted India's rapid adoption of AI and cited about 100 million weekly ChatGPT users, and said India has the largest number of students on ChatGPT worldwide.
He pointed out that while AI will automate many tasks and change job landscapes, it will also create new opportunities.
Industry leaders echoed his advice: Microsoft's Puneet Chandok called upskilling "the oxygen mask," and IBM's Arvind Krishna said some roles may be displaced, but that new opportunities will emerge for those who upskill.