OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to software engineers: “AI is like an Intern today but …”

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has offered an assessment on the current capabilities of artificial intelligence in the field of software engineering. Altman described AI as an ‘intern’, but also predicted a rapid evolution which will soon make it rival to experienced professionals. Altman mentioned that an intern can work for a few hours, but can slowly grow to become equivalent to an experienced software engineer. His comments underline the transformative impact AI is said to have to the tech industry, especially on roles related to coding.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s message to software engineers

Speaking at the Snowflake Summit 2025, Sam Altman said, “Today [AI] is like an intern that can work for a couple of hours, but at some point it’ll be like an experienced software engineer that can work for a couple of days.” He added that by next year, we may begin to see AI agents capable of solving complex business problems and even discovering new knowledge.Sam Altman believes that AI will progress quickly from its present ‘intern’ status and reach a level where it can easily perform tasks handled by experienced software engineers. This means that there can be a future where AI systems can work independently and handle complex coding challenges, design intricate software architectures and also contribute to strategic development decisions with lesser human intervention. For software engineers, Altman’s vision signifies a shift in their roles. He highlights that instead of routine coding, software engineers should increase their areas of expertise and focus on things like managing complex AI-driven projects, ensuring ethical deployment of AI and innovating on the current capabilities of AI.

Impact of AI on employment

Altman’s comments come amid growing debate over AI’s impact on employment. Recently, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned that artificial intelligence could eliminate 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs within the next five years, potentially driving US unemployment to 20%. The stark prediction comes as AI technology rapidly advances, with sectors including technology, finance, law, and consulting facing the greatest disruption.“We, as the producers of this technology, have a duty and an obligation to be honest about what is coming,” Amodei told Axios in an interview published Wednesday. The 42-year-old CEO emphasized that most people remain unaware of the impending transformation, calling it a reality that “sounds crazy, and people just don’t believe it.”