OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has issued a stark warning to U.S. policymakers, urging immediate action to prepare for the risks and economic gains of advanced artificial intelligence (AI). In an interview with Axios, Altman emphasized that AI is rapidly transitioning from theoretical research to daily economic use, with profound implications for cybersecurity and the cryptocurrency sector.
Altman highlighted that AI systems are already automating complex tasks like coding and research, tasks that previously required entire teams. He predicts newer models will accelerate scientific discovery and enable individuals to perform the work of large groups. This shift is already evident in cybersecurity, where AI is lowering the barrier for attackers. Charles Guillemet, Chief Technology Officer at hardware wallet maker Ledger, told CoinDesk that AI tools are dramatically reducing the cost and skill required to find and exploit software vulnerabilities. "Tasks that once took months, such as reverse-engineering code or linking multiple vulnerabilities, can now be completed in seconds with the right prompts," Guillemet stated.
This trend poses a direct threat to the crypto industry, which suffered over $1.4 billion in assets stolen or lost to attacks in 2023. Guillemet suggested this figure could continue to grow, especially as developers increasingly rely on AI-generated code, which may introduce new security flaws at scale. The recommended defense, according to Guillemet, involves stronger measures like mathematically verified code, hardware devices that keep private keys offline, and a broader acceptance that systems can fail.
Altman expanded the warning beyond crypto, stating that AI could enable more powerful cyberattacks and lower the barrier to harmful biological research within a year. "We’re not that far away from a world where there are incredibly capable open-source models that are very good at biology," he said, emphasizing the urgent need for societal resilience against terrorist groups using AI to create novel pathogens. He also warned of a potential "world-shaking cyberattack" that could occur as early as this year, requiring a "tremendous amount of work" to prevent.
On the topic of nationalizing AI efforts like OpenAI, Altman argued against it, stating that the U.S. needs to achieve "superintelligence" aligned with democratic values before its rivals do, a goal he believes would not succeed as a government project. He stressed that AI companies must work closely with the U.S. government.
Looking forward, Altman envisions AI becoming a ubiquitous utility, like electricity, with the cost of basic intelligence falling while top-tier systems remain expensive. He described a future where a "personal super assistant running in the cloud" would lead to variable costs based on usage. He concluded by underscoring the critical importance of having "high integrity, trustworthy people" building AI systems.
