Sam Altman says AGI will lead to economy collapse, here is why

There is a lot of buzz around AI right now, especially as tools keep getting smarter and more capable. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has shared a bold statement on what a future powered by artificial general intelligence (AGI) might look like. In a recent post on X, Altman shared that in post AGI future, 'no one is going to work' and the economy could collapse. 

He wrote, 'post-AGI, no one is going to work and the economy is going to collapse.' This statement reflects his long-standing belief that AGI could change how things work. For those unaware, AGI is a form of AI that can perform tasks at or beyond human level.

He added, 'I am switching to polyphasic sleep because GPT-5.5 in Codex is so good that I can't afford to be sleeping for such long stretches and miss out on working.' 

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"post-AGI, no one is going to work and the economy is going to collapse"

"i am switching to polyphasic sleep because GPT-5.5 in codex is so good that i can't afford to be sleeping for such long stretches and miss out on working"

— Sam Altman (@sama) April 26, 2026

These comments come shortly after OpenAI introduced its latest model, GPT-5.5. The company describes GPT-5.5 as its smartest and most intuitive model so far. It is designed to handle a wide range of tasks, including writing, coding, research, and data analysis.

One of the biggest upgrades in GPT-5.5 is its ability to better understand what users actually want. Instead of needing detailed instructions, the model can figure out intent more quickly and respond accordingly.

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According to OpenAI, GPT-5.5 comes with improved agentic coding, computer use, knowledge work and early scientific research. ‘GPT‑5.5 brings us closer to the feeling that the model can actually use the computer with you: seeing what’s on screen, clicking, typing, navigating interfaces, and moving across tools with precision,’ the company said.

Altman’s post raises an important question: if AI can do most jobs better and faster than humans, what happens to employment and the global economy? While AGI is still a developing concept, his comments suggest that its impact could be far more disruptive than many expect.

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