OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is surprised by how much people rely on ChatGPT, even though it’s far from perfect.
“People have a very high degree of trust in ChatGPT, which is interesting, because AI hallucinates. It should be the tech that you don’t trust that much,” Altman shared during the debut episode of OpenAI’s official podcast.
Despite repeated warnings that AI can generate misleading or false content, millions continue using ChatGPT for everything from research to parenting advice. Altman admitted he personally turned to the chatbot for help with questions in his son’s early months, praising its usefulness, yet also highlighting its unreliability.
“AI hallucinates,” he emphasized again, cautioning users not to take its responses at face value, especially in areas like healthcare, law, or education where misinformation could have serious consequences.
The conversation also touched on new ChatGPT features, including persistent memory and potential ad-based models, raising fresh privacy concerns. With OpenAI under legal fire from outlets like The New York Times, Altman stressed the importance of transparency and maintaining user trust.
While he’s optimistic about AI’s future, he insists on one thing: don’t let the tech’s convenience blind you to its faults.
“It’s not super reliable,” he admitted. “We need to be honest about that.”
