Sam Altman is calling out a growing trend where companies blame artificial intelligence (AI) for job cuts that have nothing to do with the technology, a practice he's labeled 'AI washing.' Speaking with CNBC-TV18, the OpenAI CEO argued that while AI will eventually displace workers, many firms are using the technology as a convenient scapegoat for layoffs driven by other business decisions. The distinction matters because it obscures the real impact AI will have on the job market and allows companies to appear forward-thinking without actually investing in new technologies.

Why Are Companies Blaming AI for Layoffs That Aren't AI-Related?

The incentive structure is straightforward: investors reward companies that appear to be investing in cutting-edge technology. When a firm announces layoffs tied to AI adoption, it signals that leadership is modernizing operations and preparing for the future. In reality, many of these job cuts stem from economic pressures, poor business decisions, or restructuring that has nothing to do with artificial intelligence. Altman's concern is that this "AI washing" muddies the waters about what the technology can actually do.

The numbers tell part of the story. So far in 2026, more than 92,000 tech workers have been laid off, with a large number attributed to AI in one way or another, according to layoffs.fyi. However, Altman's point is that not all of these layoffs are genuinely AI-driven. Some companies are simply rebranding existing cost-cutting measures as AI-related to improve their public image and investor relations.

"I would expect that the real impact of AI on jobs, in the next few years, to begin to be palpable," Altman explained, indicating that early confusion about AI's true effects will eventually give way to clearer insights into which roles may no longer survive in an AI-driven era.

Sam Altman, CEO at OpenAI

What Does the Real Impact of AI on Jobs Actually Look Like?

Altman acknowledges that AI will genuinely displace workers in certain sectors. He's previously written about the hard truths: "There will be very hard parts like whole classes of jobs going away, but on the other hand the world will be getting so much richer so quickly that we'll be able to seriously entertain new policy ideas we never could before". The key insight is that AI disruption is real and inevitable, but its net effect on employment may not be catastrophic if society adapts thoughtfully.

Altman

The OpenAI CEO draws historical parallels to other technological revolutions. Just as the automobile displaced horse-drawn carriage workers but created new industries, AI will likely destroy certain job categories while creating others we haven't yet imagined. "Of course we'll find new kinds of jobs," Altman said, asserting that AI isn't set to have net negative impacts on the labor market.

How to Distinguish Real AI Impact from Corporate Spin

• Look at the specifics: Companies genuinely adopting AI typically announce specific tools, efficiency gains, or productivity metrics. Vague references to "AI transformation" without concrete examples are often red flags for AI washing.
• Check the timeline: Real AI adoption takes time for implementation and training. Immediate layoffs announced alongside AI initiatives may indicate the job cuts were planned independently of the technology rollout.
• Examine the investment: Legitimate AI adoption requires upfront spending on infrastructure, software, and employee retraining. If a company announces layoffs without corresponding AI investment announcements, the connection is likely manufactured.
• Monitor policy discussions: Companies genuinely concerned about AI's workforce impact engage in public conversations about retraining programs and policy solutions. Those merely using AI as a layoff justification typically stay silent on these issues.

Altman's critique highlights a broader challenge in the early stages of AI adoption: separating genuine technological disruption from corporate opportunism. As AI becomes more integrated into business operations, the ability to distinguish between real and manufactured impact will become increasingly important for workers, investors, and policymakers trying to understand the technology's true economic consequences.

The bottom line is that AI will reshape the job market, but not in the way every layoff announcement suggests. By calling out "AI washing," Altman is pushing for more honest conversations about which jobs are actually at risk and which companies are simply using the technology as convenient cover for decisions they were already planning to make.