'Companies that are not set up to quickly adopt AI workers will be at a huge disadvantage': OpenAI Sam Altman warns firms not to fall behind on AI - but notes 'it’s going to take a lot of work and some risk' (www.techradar.com)

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, speaking at the Cisco AI Summit 2026, emphasized the critical need for businesses to adapt quickly to AI technologies or risk falling significantly behind. He highlighted the unprecedented capabilities of AI tools and their potential to enhance productivity across various industries. Altman warned that companies failing to embrace AI will face immense challenges as demand for AI integration into the workforce escalates. He acknowledged that while the transition requires considerable effort and carries risks, those who manage it effectively stand to gain a substantial competitive advantage. During the session, Altman also addressed potential challenges for the AI sector, including global instability and supply chain disruptions. He introduced OpenAI's new Codex app, which signals a transformative leap in coding capabilities. Altman described this development as akin to experiencing a "ChatGPT moment,” predicting that AI agents will fundamentally reshape how knowledge work is executed. He expressed optimism about the forthcoming enhancements in language models, forecasting a subjective "10x improvement" by 2026, underscoring the urgency for companies to evolve and integrate AI into their operations to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.