Why Sam Altman calls MBA students his 'chronic disappointment'

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has called his frustration with MBA students his 'chronic disappointment', arguing that many chase career paths that were popular five years ago. As AI reshapes jobs and industries, he believes the technology could open new opportunities for entrepreneurs and young professionals willing to try something different.OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has called his frustration with MBA students his ‘chronic disappointment’, arguing that many chase career paths that were popular five years ago. (Photo: Reuters)New Delhi,Oct 29, 2026 14:57 ISTOpenAI CEO Sam Altman has a blunt message for MBA students: stop chasing career paths that were popular five years ago and start exploring what artificial intelligence makes possible today.Altman called his frustration with business school students his “chronic disappointment”, arguing that many prefer established career choices over taking a chance on something new. Speaking in an interview with Stanford Graduate School of Business, as reported by Fortune, he said the current period of AI-driven change could offer opportunities for people willing to think differently.“My chronic disappointment with MBA students is that they always want to go do the thing that was cool five years ago rather than try something new,” Altman said. “I think this is a great time to go do the new thing.”His comments come as AI tools reshape work across sectors, from software development and customer service to finance and education. While the technology could automate or change many existing tasks, Altman believes the transition will also create room for new businesses and careers. AI COULD OPEN DOORS FOR NEW BUSINESSESAltman acknowledged that AI would perform many tasks more efficiently and in different ways. However, he suggested that the changes would unfold over time rather than happen overnight.He also sees the technology as an opportunity for founders to build companies that were difficult to imagine just a few years ago. “There are many companies that can be built on top of the technology OpenAI has put out into the world that will be much bigger and, I hope, more important than OpenAI,” he said.For people starting their careers, Altman argued that periods of rapid technological change can create a more open playing field. New entrants may have opportunities to challenge established businesses rather than follow existing models.FROM STANFORD DROPOUT TO OPENAI CEOAltman's career reflects the unconventional path he is encouraging young professionals to consider. He left Stanford University in 2005, where he was studying computer science, to co-found location-based social networking start-up Loopt. The company was later acquired.He subsequently joined startup accelerator Y Combinator, serving as its president from 2014 to 2019, before becoming one of the leading figures in the AI industry through OpenAI.Other technology leaders have also urged entrepreneurs to build businesses around AI rather than treat it as an optional add-on. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has discussed the advantages of startups built around AI from the beginning, while entrepreneur Mark Cuban has encouraged businesses to use the technology to improve speed and decision-making.Altman's central message to MBA students is that familiar career paths may not be the only, or even the most interesting, options available. As AI changes how businesses operate, he believes the opportunity lies in identifying what can be built next, rather than simply following what worked in the past.- Ends