OpenAI CEO Sam Altman thinks it's 'cool' young people ask AI for advice

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said young people often consult ChatGPT before making life decisions, describing this trend as “cool” during a recent industry event.

Speaking at the Sequoia Capital AI Ascent conference earlier this month, Altman explained that younger users do not merely use ChatGPT for information but seek personal advice from the chatbot.

“They don’t really make life decisions without asking ChatGPT what they should do,” he said. Altman added that ChatGPT “has the full context on every person in their life and what they’ve talked about.”

Altman contrasted this with older users, who tend to use ChatGPT more as an alternative to Google for research.

While Altman’s remarks suggest a positive view of chatbot reliance, some experts warn of the potential risks. They've raised caution that ChatGPT can produce fabricated or misleading information, often referred to as “hallucinations.”

AI chatbots do not possess human understanding of emotions or relationships and rely on patterns extracted from vast datasets. This limits their ability to provide nuanced advice on complex personal matters.

Incidents have been reported where AI interactions had adverse effects. A Rolling Stone report described a woman ending her marriage after her husband became fixated on conspiracy theories generated by AI.

Additionally, parents in Texas filed a lawsuit against Character.ai, alleging the platform’s chatbots exposed children to inappropriate sexual content and encouraged self-harm and violence.

These examples raise concerns about the blurred boundaries between AI-generated conversations and real human relationships, particularly for children and young users.

While AI tools like ChatGPT offer convenience, experts emphasize that they cannot replace genuine human interaction or professional guidance.

As reliance on AI for personal advice grows, it remains critical to recognise its limitations and potential risks.