Artificial intelligence (AI) is now so advanced that some experts believe no child will ever surpass its intelligence again.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, a central figure in the world of artificial intelligence, recently reflected on the transformative potential of AI advancements, and particularly their impact on the next generation. Speaking on a podcast, he remarked, “My kid will never ever be smarter than an AI. That will never happen. You know, kid born a few years ago. They had a brief period of time. My kid never will be smarter.”

Altman’s statement captures a profound and ongoing shift, both in technology and society. As the current leader of OpenAI, the organization behind breakthroughs like the GPT-language model series and other advanced AI technologies, Altman’s insights carry significant weight. His views are shaped by daily interactions with researchers pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve — tasks ranging from language generation and autonomous reasoning to problem-solving at a superhuman scale.

When Altman says “my kid will never be smarter than an AI,” he is not lamenting a loss, but observing a turning point in technology. Historically, each new generation had the chance to exceed the achievements of earlier ones, shaped by new education, tools, and inventions. Now, he says, a rapidly accelerating AI trajectory means that children born today will coexist with machines that learn and develop orders of magnitude faster, with access to vast data and computational resources. Altman’s comment reflects both a recognition of what has already changed and a sense of inevitability about the future.

The authority behind Altman’s remark comes from his central role at OpenAI. Since its founding in 2015, OpenAI has led the development of generative AI with a philosophy that blends technological optimism and public caution. Altman, previously a leading Silicon Valley investor and technologist, has often spoken about the responsibility of the sector and the need for flexible, thoughtful policy as AI becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life and the economy.

His assertion that no human — no matter how young or well-educated — could ever outpace AI is rooted in empirical reality. AI models now routinely outperform humans in specialized knowledge domains, can process and generate language with uncanny fluency, and are applied across finance, healthcare, logistics, and creative fields. The “brief period of time” when a child or their peers could match or exceed machine intelligence may well have effectively vanished, as Altman suggests, replaced by a world where coexistence and collaboration with increasingly capable AI systems is the norm.

This perspective is particularly salient as debates about job displacement, educational outcomes, and the essence of human endeavor gain prominence. Altman’s comment is not simply an observation about his own family, but a reflection of the collective transition underway: society must adapt to new definitions of intellect, capability, and value in an era dominated by artificial intelligence. Experts suggest this requires a renewed emphasis on skills such as creativity, adaptability, and ethical reasoning — areas where machines may never fully overtake human strengths.

For now, Altman’s remark encapsulates the magnitude of change artificial intelligence is bringing to global culture, labor, and the imagination of what people can become. As AI evolves, the notion of human uniqueness is being redefined, not diminished — and it’s a process that will shape the upbringing and prospects of generations to come.