OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has said he believes humanity is already entering the AI “singularity”, a period in which artificial intelligence accelerates technological and social change. He argued that attempts to halt or heavily suppress the technology could harm humanity by preventing it from gaining AI’s potential benefits, while acknowledging that adaptation will be difficult.

Altman described a feedback loop in which AI increasingly assists research and development, helping to create more capable systems and supporting further investment. His comments reflect a broader dispute over whether rapid AI development should be constrained by regulation and safety measures, with critics warning that the technology’s economic, political and security effects may outpace society’s ability to manage them.