OpenAI chief Sam Altman admits he still manually scans his inbox despite AI tools
Sam Altman told host David Senra that he continues to read emails by hand, even though OpenAI’s AI assistants could automate the task.
In a conversation on David Senra’s podcast, Sam Altman revealed that he habitually reads his email manually, a practice he finds at odds with his view of efficient work. Although OpenAI offers AI solutions like Codex that can automate many computer functions, Altman admits he still prefers to pick and choose messages himself, describing the pattern as psychologically inconsistent. He suggested that more advanced AI could eventually ease such entrenched routines.
The discussion also referenced broader trends among leaders, noting that Klaviyo CEO Andrew Bialecki uses scripts to summarize daily information and Siemens CEO Roland Busch limits his inbox to under 100 messages, often replying with brief acknowledgments. These examples illustrate a growing interest in leveraging AI to manage email volume across the tech and business sectors.
Why it matters
It highlights how even top tech leaders struggle to adopt AI for everyday tasks, underscoring cultural barriers to productivity tools.
In this story
