OpenAI’s top executives delivered a stark message to students at the University of Tokyo: the era of humans outperforming AI on raw computational power is effectively over. CEO Sam Altman and Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil participated in a Q&A session earlier this month, offering strategic advice for students preparing to enter an AI-dominated workforce.
Altman declared that AI surpassing human capabilities isn’t a question of “if” but “when,” stating bluntly: “You will not outrun the AI on raw horsepower. That’s over. That’s probably over this year.” He compared competing with AI on specific skills to trying to “outrun the calculator” at arithmetic—a futile endeavor that misses the point of how humans should work alongside these technologies.
Weil emphasized immediate action, urging students to integrate AI tools into their daily routines as soon as possible. “Start incorporating them into the way that you work, into the way that you study,” the former Facebook and Instagram executive advised. “When you’re doing something new, ask yourself, ‘Is there a way that AI could help me do this faster?’” His message was clear: early adoption and familiarity with AI tools will be critical competitive advantages in future careers.
Rather than viewing AI as a threat, Altman encouraged students to see it as an evolutionary partner. He envisions a future where everyone has access to “the best, most competent company on Earth” through AI assistance. In this world, the most valuable human skills will be understanding what people want, creative vision, quick adaptability, resilience amid constant change, and the ability to leverage AI tools to accomplish what was previously impossible.
Weil offered practical career advice for the AI era: seek opportunities at companies that view AI as an enabler rather than a competitor. “If you’re building something and you can’t wait for our next model release, because you’re just at the edge of capabilities… that’s a good place to be,” he explained.
OpenAI, valued at $157 billion as of October, recently launched its first AI agent called Operator for ChatGPT Pro subscribers at $200 monthly. Altman has predicted that AI agents will “materially change the output of companies” in 2025, describing them as “real-but-relatively-junior virtual coworkers”—and asking readers to imagine thousands or millions of such agents transforming every field of knowledge work.
Key Quotes
You will not outrun the AI on raw horsepower. That’s over. That’s probably over this year.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made this declaration to students at the University of Tokyo, marking a definitive statement about AI’s current capabilities surpassing human computational power and signaling the end of competing with AI on pure skill-based tasks.
To me, the lesson in there, the thing to take away now, is just start using these tools. Start incorporating them into the way that you work, into the way that you study.
Kevin Weil, OpenAI’s Chief Product Officer, emphasized the importance of immediate AI adoption for students. His advice reflects the growing consensus that familiarity and comfort with AI tools will be essential competitive advantages in future careers.
The skills that you need in that world are figuring out what people want, sort of creative vision, quick adaptability, resilience as everything is changing around you, and the sort of learning how to work with these tools to do way more than people could without it.
Altman outlined the human skills that will remain valuable in an AI-dominated future, shifting focus from technical prowess to creative, adaptive, and collaborative capabilities that complement rather than compete with AI.
If you’re building something and you can’t wait for our next model release, because you’re just at the edge of capabilities and our next model release that’ll be that much smarter is going to make your product amazing, that’s a good place to be.
Weil provided career guidance for students entering the workforce, advising them to seek opportunities at companies that view AI advancements as enablers rather than threats—a strategic perspective on positioning oneself in the AI economy.
Our Take
OpenAI’s messaging to students reveals a strategic narrative shift from AI as tool to AI as fundamental infrastructure. By declaring the “raw horsepower” competition over, Altman is effectively redefining the terms of human value in the workplace—away from execution and toward direction, creativity, and judgment. This isn’t just career advice; it’s a market-positioning statement that normalizes AI dependency while creating demand for OpenAI’s products.
The timing is significant. With Operator launching at $200/month and Altman’s vision of millions of AI agents, OpenAI is cultivating the next generation of power users and decision-makers who will view AI integration as non-negotiable. The emphasis on “adaptability” and “resilience” also subtly prepares students for continuous disruption—a future where OpenAI’s regular model releases constantly reshape job requirements. This is savvy ecosystem building: train users early, make them dependent, and position your company as the essential partner for an AI-native workforce.
Why This Matters
This guidance from OpenAI’s leadership represents a pivotal moment in how we prepare the next generation for an AI-transformed economy. As one of the world’s most influential AI companies, OpenAI’s perspective carries significant weight in shaping educational and career strategies. The acknowledgment that AI has already surpassed or will imminently surpass human capabilities in raw computational tasks marks a fundamental shift in how students should approach skill development.
The emphasis on integration over competition signals a broader industry consensus that the future workforce won’t be defined by those who can outperform AI, but by those who can most effectively collaborate with it. This has profound implications for educational institutions, which must rapidly adapt curricula to emphasize AI literacy, creative problem-solving, and adaptability over rote memorization and computational skills.
For businesses, this messaging reinforces the urgency of AI adoption and the competitive advantage that early movers will gain. Companies that position themselves at the “edge of capabilities,” as Weil described, will attract top talent and leverage each new AI advancement. The introduction of AI agents like Operator and Altman’s vision of millions of virtual coworkers suggests we’re approaching an inflection point where AI fundamentally restructures how work gets done across all knowledge sectors.
Recommended Reading
For those interested in learning more about artificial intelligence, machine learning, and effective AI communication, here are some excellent resources:
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-chief-product-officer-kevin-weil-advice-to-students-ai-2025-2