Just like electricity, AI will soon become metered service for all, says OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
Follow UsSam Altman says people may soon pay for AI based on how much they use it.
AI tools are helping people finish tasks faster in areas like coding, research, and analysis.
OpenAI is building new data centres with partners to support the growing use of AI.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes the future of artificial intelligence may be far simpler than many people imagine. Speaking at the BlackRock US Infrastructure Summit in Washington, DC, Altman explained that AI may soon become something people use the way they use electricity or water. Instead of paying a fixed monthly fee for AI tools, users could pay based on how much computing power they use. Altman believes AI will gradually turn into a basic service that people use whenever they need help with work, learning or problem-solving. The idea is that intelligence delivered through machines will function like a utility.
SurveyAltman explained that the role of AI in everyday work is already expanding faster than many people expected. Furthermore, he pointed out that AI tools in several industries are now capable of completing tasks that once required hours of effort from skilled professionals. Software development is one area where this shift is clearly visible. Since their inception, AI systems have increasingly helped engineers write, test, and review code.
Also read: Xiaomi reportedly plans to expand deeper into home appliances in India in 2026
However, the technology is not limited to programming, as the AI tools today are also supporting research, science, and other fields that rely on detailed analysis and large amounts of information. Altman said that employees are beginning to spend less time on technical execution and more time guiding AI systems that perform the tasks in the workplaces.
Sam Altman believes that AI will be able to handle bigger and bigger tasks over time. Right now, an AI system might finish work that usually takes a few hours. But in the near future, the same systems could take on projects that normally take several days or even weeks.
Also read: Can AI predict floods before they happen? Google’s new tool aims to warn cities early
He also explained that he personally uses AI when running OpenAI. When he comes up with a new product idea or thinks about a business plan, he often asks AI tools for their feedback before sharing the idea with his team.
However, creating such powerful AI systems needs a lot of computing power, and huge data centres with special hardware are required to train and run these models. At last, he concluded that to support this, OpenAI is building more infrastructure with partners like Microsoft and Oracle while exploring massive global chip initiatives with investors like SoftBank.
