OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Foresees AI Tackling Complex Business Challenges by 2026

At the Snowflake Summit 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shared his insights on the transformative potential of AI in business. He stated, "Next year, we will be at a point where you can not only use a system to automate business processes and build new products and services, but you can say, 'I have this hugely important problem in my business.

I will throw a ton of compute at it if you can solve it,' and the models can figure out things that teams of people on their own can't do."

Preparing for the AI-Driven Future

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the importance for companies to adapt to this rapid evolution. He mentioned, "People who are ready for that will have another big step change next year. For instance, a chip design company can say, 'Go design me a better chip than I could have possibly had before'."

OpenAI's Advanced AI Agents

Operator – Automating Routine Tasks

In January 2025, OpenAI introduced Operator, an AI agent designed to autonomously perform tasks through web browser interactions, including filling forms, placing online orders, and scheduling appointments.

Deep Research – Enhancing Knowledge Discovery

February 2025 saw the launch of Deep Research, an AI agent capable of conducting in-depth, multi-step research on the internet and compiling comprehensive reports on complex topics. 

Codex – Revolutionizing Software Development

In May 2025, OpenAI unveiled Codex, a software engineering agent that can autonomously generate code, fix bugs, and propose code improvements, acting as a virtual coworker for developers.

The Road to AGI – Redefining Intelligence

AI Agents as Junior Employees

Altman noted the evolving role of AI agents, stating, "You hear from companies that are building agents to automate most of their customer support, or their outbound sales and you hear people that talk about their job now is to assign work to a bunch of agents, look at the quality, figure out how it fits together, give feedback, and it sounds a lot like how they work with a team of still relatively junior employees."

Beyond Automation – AI Discovering New Knowledge

Looking ahead, Altman expressed optimism about AI's potential to contribute to scientific discovery: "As that expands to longer time horizons and higher levels, at some point you can get an AI scientist, an AI agent that can go and discover new science, and that would be a significant moment in the world."

Conclusion

OpenAI's advancements signal a transformative era where AI agents evolve from tools to collaborative partners in business. Sam Altman's vision underscores a future where AI not only automates tasks but also contributes to innovation and problem-solving at unprecedented levels. As AI agents like Operator, Deep Research, and Codex become integral to enterprise operations, businesses must adapt to leverage these technologies effectively.

The journey toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is not just about achieving a milestone but embracing the continuous progress that redefines our interaction with technology. Companies that proactively integrate AI into their workflows will be better positioned to navigate and thrive in this rapidly evolving landscape.