“My kids will never be smarter than AI,” Altman said in the debut episode of the “OpenAI Podcast,” released last week, as reported by Business Insider.
Altman, who recently welcomed a baby boy with his partner, software engineer Oliver Mulherin, shared the news on Feb. 22 via X. He said in a May interview with Bloomberg that within the first hour of his son’s life, he “felt this neurochemical change” and that the experience “totally rewired all of my priorities.” “It is the best, most amazing thing ever,” he added.
During the podcast, Altman told host Andrew Mayne that his focus is on the possibilities AI will bring to future generations, rather than on what it may take away. “I don’t think my kids will ever be bothered by the fact that they’re not smarter than AI,” he said.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is seated to testify before a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing titled “Winning the AI Race: Strengthening U.S. Capabilities in Computing and Innovation,” on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 8, 2025. Photo from Reuters
In January, Altman discussed in the “Re:Thinking” podcast how future children will grow up in a world where AI will be smarter than they are. “And that’ll be natural,” he said.
“Of course, it’s smarter than us. Of course, it can do things we can’t, but also who really cares? I think it’s only weird for us in this one transition time.”
Altman, who advocates for large families, described himself as “extremely kid-pilled.” His views on parenting echo those of Elon Musk, who has fathered at least 14 children. The world’s richest man has publicly expressed his desire to have more children to counter declining birth rates, referring to his offspring as a “legion,” a term borrowed from Roman military units that refers to thousands of soldiers, according to People magazine.
Altman and Mulherin married in January 2024 and reside in San Francisco, where they have kept their relationship largely private. One of their first public appearances together was at a White House dinner in 2023.
Altman co-founded OpenAI with Musk and others, gaining widespread attention following the 2022 launch of ChatGPT. With Microsoft’s backing, OpenAI was valued at $157 billion in October 2024 after securing $6.6 billion from investors, according to Reuters. As of June 22, Forbes estimates Altman’s net worth at approximately $1.7 billion.
