Gen Z Will Explore Space and Score Sky-High Salaries as AI Reshapes Career Landscape

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve and disrupt traditional job markets, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman sees a bright future for Gen Z college graduates. In an optimistic forecast, Altman believes that in just 10 years, young professionals could be working in groundbreaking roles—exploring the solar system on space missions, earning impressive salaries, and engaging in careers that are currently unimaginable.

While many recent college graduates are feeling the pressure of a highly competitive job market, with their degrees often not guaranteeing success, Altman assures that AI will open doors to exciting and lucrative opportunities. Despite AI potentially eliminating some jobs, he predicts that the next generation will benefit from unprecedented opportunities, especially in fields like space exploration.

“If I were 22 right now, I’d feel like the luckiest kid in history,” Altman shared. He emphasized that the next wave of graduates could leave college and head straight into roles that weren’t available just a few years ago. He envisions a future where they not only work in space but also make advancements in technology that were once the stuff of science fiction.

In a conversation with Cleo Abram on the “Huge If True” podcast, Altman explained that with AI tools like the new GPT-5, it’s easier than ever for young people to build businesses and innovate on a scale that used to require a large team. “It is probably possible now to start a company, that is a one-person company that will go on to be worth more than a billion dollars,” Altman said.

Tech giants like Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Nvidia’s Jensen Huang have similarly predicted that AI will revolutionize the way work is done, even reducing the length of the workweek. AI will empower students and young professionals to innovate and take on careers that may not have even existed in the past.

For student-athletes entering the workforce, this means there’s an exciting new frontier to explore, where the potential for success goes far beyond traditional career paths. As AI reshapes industries and creates new opportunities, the future for today’s graduates—especially those with a passion for innovation and exploration—looks brighter than ever.