'People trust ChatGPT too much', OpenAI CEO Sam Altman warns AI still hallucinates
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has voiced his surprise at how deeply people trust ChatGPT despite its known flaws, especially its tendency to hallucinate or confidently give incorrect information.
Speaking on the OpenAI podcast, Altman remarked, “People have a very high degree of trust in ChatGPT… but it should be the tech you don’t trust that much.” His comments come at a time when people are increasingly using AI to answer everyday questions, from cooking tips to parenting advice.
AI sounds smart, but isn’t always right
Experts say the trust stems from how human-like AI sounds. Dr. Melissa Tran, an AI ethicist from the University of Toronto, explained, “It speaks like a confident human. That alone makes people feel like it knows what it’s talking about even when it doesn’t.”
Altman himself has experienced this firsthand. When he became a new parent, he found himself relying heavily on ChatGPT from choosing nap schedules to solving diaper rash. “I had to remind myself it doesn’t always get it right,” he admitted.
A wake-up call from the inside
Sam Altman’s candid reflection is more than a passing remark it’s a wake-up call. Coming from the very creator of one of the world’s most trusted AI platforms, it reframes the conversation about how we use and trust machine-generated content.
It also raises a broader question: In our rush to embrace AI as a problem-solving oracle, are we overlooking its imperfections?
Altman’s comments serve as a reminder that while AI can be incredibly useful, it must be treated as an assistant not an oracle. Blind trust, he implies, is not only misplaced but potentially dangerous. As generative AI continues to evolve, so must our skepticism.
Real-world judgment still matters
Altman emphasized that while AI is helpful, over-dependence is risky. “We’re at the start of something powerful,” he warned. “If we’re not careful, trust will outpace reliability.”
He stressed the need for real-world guardrails systems, rules, and societal awareness to ensure that AI serves as a helpful tool, not an unquestioned authority.
Use AI wisely
While it’s fine to ask ChatGPT for suggestions, it shouldn’t be the final decision-maker in your life. AI is a tool not a replacement for real-world thinking or expert advice. As Altman put it, trust is good, but blind trust in AI? Not so much.