Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In this exclusive interview, Axios co-founder Mike Allen sits down with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to discuss the rapid approach of superintelligence and why he believes the world, especially Washington, is not yet prepared for the transformation ahead.
Altman details OpenAI's new policy blueprint, the urgent need for societal resilience against cyber and bio threats, and whether the U.S. government should play a more direct role in the development of AI.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: Mike Allen and Sam Altman on "Superintelligence"
00:39 – Why Sam Altman feels a sense of urgency right now
02:17 – OpenAI's responsibility as an "educator" for what's coming
04:14 – What to expect from the next class of AI models
05:21 – Serious threats: Cyber security and Bio-risks
07:47 – The case against nationalizing OpenAI
09:36 – How far are we from AGI and a "new paradigm"?
10:55 – Will AI transform what it means to be human?
12:50 – Is the AI blueprint "Bernie Sanders' fever dream"?
14:50 – What is most doable in the policy blueprint?
16:33 – Personal impact: How leading OpenAI has changed Sam Altman
19:00 – Rapid Fire: The future of AI pricing and intelligence as a utility
Read OpenAI's new report: openai.com/index/industrial-policy-for-the-intelligence-age
In this exclusive interview, Axios co-founder Mike Allen sits down with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to discuss the rapid approach of superintelligence and why he believes the world, especially Washington, is not yet prepared for the transformation ahead.
Altman details OpenAI's new policy blueprint, the urgent need for societal resilience against cyber and bio threats, and whether the U.S. government should play a more direct role in the development of AI.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: Mike Allen and Sam Altman on "Superintelligence"
00:39 – Why Sam Altman feels a sense of urgency right now
02:17 – OpenAI's responsibility as an "educator" for what's coming
04:14 – What to expect from the next class of AI models
05:21 – Serious threats: Cyber security and Bio-risks
07:47 – The case against nationalizing OpenAI
09:36 – How far are we from AGI and a "new paradigm"?
10:55 – Will AI transform what it means to be human?
12:50 – Is the AI blueprint "Bernie Sanders' fever dream"?
14:50 – What is most doable in the policy blueprint?
16:33 – Personal impact: How leading OpenAI has changed Sam Altman
19:00 – Rapid Fire: The future of AI pricing and intelligence as a utility
Read OpenAI's new report: openai.com/index/industrial-policy-for-the-intelligence-age
