Altman’s AI dream is just another way to be cool
The CEO’s new business is a pitch for the next generation of 'cool'—just with a robot.

The story
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expresses disappointment in Gen Z for clinging to past trends instead of embracing AI, while promoting new AI-driven entrepreneurship opportunities.
Source: fortune.com
Our reading
Altman’s frustration with Gen Z’s preference for ‘what was cool five years ago’ suggests he thinks they’re not embracing the future fast enough. But the real irony is that he’s trying to sell them a new version of the same thing: a way to be cool, just with AI instead of TikTok dances.
His new business, aimed at helping young entrepreneurs build with AI, is essentially a product for people who already think they’re ahead of the curve. It’s like selling a time machine to people who still use flip phones.
Altman’s new venture is a reminder that the people who benefit from disruption are often the ones who profit from it, even if they’re the ones complaining about the old guard.