'The biggest mistake...': OpenAI's Sam Altman issues warning to IIT Delhi students on career survival in AI age

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman did not try to sugarcoat things when he spoke to students at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi recently. At Dogra Hall, he delivered a message that was blunt. His core warning was simple: the rules that guided previous generations may not help young people survive in the AI era. Responding to a question about the biggest mistake young people make while preparing for artificial intelligence, Altman said, “I think listening to old people is the biggest mistake young people make.” The remark drew laughter from the audience, but he was serious about the larger point.

He went further and added, “For a predictor of what the world is going to be like going forward, I don't think you should trust me for having good intuition of the rate of change.” In other words, even he does not claim to fully grasp how fast things are moving. He told students that young people usually understand new shifts better and that they will have to build their own instincts. “Young people always figure this out the best,” he said, adding that “the traditional career advice is probably not going to work as well.”

He clarified that parents remain important for values and life guidance. But when it comes to predicting jobs and industries in a fast-changing AI economy, relying fully on older generations could be limiting.

The biggest mistake he warns about

Altman’s central warning is about depending too much on outdated career formulas. In his view, blindly following conventional paths without adapting to AI-driven change could hold young professionals back. He suggested that students must quickly develop their own judgement instead of waiting for someone else to define the safe option.

Throughout the interaction, he repeatedly spoke about “agency.” He said, “Agency is also a learnable skill.” He explained that people often lose this belief over time, but it is critical to hold on to it. “The returns on agency clearly have never been higher,” he said, pointing out that AI tools now allow individuals to do work that once needed entire teams. According to him, “A single person with drive and an idea and willpower can make incredible things happen.”

Risk, resilience and job fears

Altman also addressed concerns about AI replacing human workers. He cautioned against extreme reactions. “Anyone who says they're only excited or only fearful about AI is not being very thoughtful,” he said. While acknowledging that “some jobs will totally go away,” he added that history shows new roles usually appear, often faster than people expect. He told students, “Many of you will eventually do jobs that don't exist today, even really as a concept.”

He encouraged risk-taking, especially in a culture where stability is often preferred. “Most people, especially in India, are especially averse to risk,” he said. He summed up his personal philosophy in a short line: “My willingness to fail allows me to succeed.” When asked to name one skill every IIT student should build this year, his answer was direct: “Resilience.”

Altman also spoke positively about India’s growing place in the global AI ecosystem. He described the energy of Indian builders as remarkable and said India is already OpenAI’s second-largest market, growing very fast. He appreciated the push toward democratising AI and balancing innovation with risk management.

Looking ahead to 2047, when India marks 100 years of independence, he predicted that the next generation could grow up with “superintelligence” as a normal part of life.