AI Agents: The New Workforce
Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, a trailblazer in artificial intelligence technology, made a noteworthy statement at the 2025 Snowflake Summit. He revealed that AI agents are now operating akin to junior employees and will soon have the capability to unearth new knowledge. This evolution is not only enhancing productivity but also reshaping the landscape of knowledge creation.
AI’s Contribution to Knowledge Discovery
Altman highlighted that workers are now delegating tasks to AI agents, supervising the outcomes, and providing feedback, much like managing a novice team. This shift has already become a part of many job descriptions. Altman’s boldest forecast is that by 2026, AI agents might begin to discover new information in specific scenarios. He stated, “I would bet that next year, in some limited situations, at least on a small scale, we will start to see agents that can help us discover new knowledge or find solutions to not so trivial business problems.”
Indeed, AI is already pioneering new discoveries. For instance, Microsoft’s Discovery platform, designed to expedite scientific research, recently identified a novel chemical for cooling data centers in merely 200 hours.
Innovations in AI: GPT-4.5 and Codex
In February, OpenAI unveiled the GPT-4.5 model, which Altman described as “the first AI that is like talking to a thoughtful human being”. Although currently accessible to a select few Pro subscribers due to its significant processing power needs, it signifies a new frontier in AI communication. Another groundbreaking innovation from OpenAI is Codex, an AI agent assisting software developers by writing, debugging, and testing code. Unlike traditional chatbots, Codex can interact with external applications and even manage tasks like making dinner reservations.
The Impact of AI on Employment
At the event, discussions also revolved around AI’s impact on the job market. According to Revelio Labs economist Zanele Munyikwa, the percentage of jobs that can be performed by AI in job postings has decreased by 19 percent over the past three years. Notably, there has been a 31 percent decline in hiring rates for roles such as database administrators and IT specialists, indicating that AI is swiftly taking over certain positions. Companies like Shopify are now challenging managers to justify why AI cannot perform a particular role before proceeding with new hires. Meanwhile, Duolingo has completely transitioned to using AI in place of its outsourced workforce.
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