Sam Altman: Why AI Isn't Boosting Revenue & Productivity

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says the most common "negative" question he gets from business leaders is about the lack of revenue and productivity gains from AI, despite increased spending. He shared this during an interview with Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn. Altman admitted he's surprised AI hasn't stimulated more economic growth. He expected a bigger economic impact from current AI technology. What's interesting is that a survey found 90% of executives reported no impact on productivity from AI use. Altman believes it's still very new and will take more time to see how companies run more efficiently. He stated that if this question is still being asked a year from now, he would be more concerned. He also suggested Australia could become a data center capital of the world due to its natural resources and clean energy. This matters because it highlights a key challenge in AI adoption: translating investment into tangible economic benefits.