Sam Altman says AI won't shorten the workweek because humans secretly enjoy being busy

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said AI is unlikely to trigger a broad reduction in working hours.

On the Relentless podcast, he argued that people usually raise their ambitions and create new work rather than simply working less.

The piece contrasts his view with four-day workweek trials and labor advocates who want AI gains to translate into more leisure.

The debate matters because it shapes expectations for how the benefits of automation should be shared.