Sam Altman says AI will soon become a utility like electricity, people will buy it from him by the meter
India Today
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes artificial intelligence could soon become a basic service like electricity. Users may eventually pay for AI based on how much they use it, similar to a metered utility.
AI is often discussed as a powerful technology that could change the way people work, learn, and build businesses. But Sam Altman believes the future of AI may actually look much simpler. Instead of being seen as a complex innovation, AI could eventually become a basic service that people use daily, much like electricity. Speaking at the BlackRock US Infrastructure Summit in Washington, DC, Altman said he sees a future where people do not think too much about AI itself. They will simply use it whenever they need help with a task and pay for it depending on how much they use.
In his view, intelligence delivered through AI could become something people buy "by the metre," just like electricity or water. He was basically trying to suggest that instead of paying a fixed price for an AI service, users should pay based on the amount of computing power they consume.
"We see a future where intelligence is a utility like electricity or water and people buy it from us on a meter and use it for whatever they want to use it for," Altman said.
Altman also spoke about how quickly AI tools are becoming part of everyday work. According to him, many companies are already seeing AI perform tasks that people once believed would take years to achieve.
One of the clearest examples is software development. AI systems can already handle coding tasks that might normally take engineers several hours. But the use of these systems is not limited to coding. They are also helping with research, science and other knowledge-heavy work.
In some workplaces, employees are beginning to spend less time doing the actual technical tasks and more time guiding AI systems that complete the work. Altman said this could become even more common in the coming years.
Among the fashion standouts at the Oscars 2026 were Nicole Kidman, Teyana Taylor, Priyanka Chopra, Emma Stone, Audrey Nuna, Anne Hathaway and Pedro Pascal.
Thousands of degree certificates and mark sheets have remained unclaimed in several colleges for nearly four decades. Students passed their exams but never returned to collect their documents, leaving institutions struggling to store the growing pile of academic records.
In a small classroom in Aligarh's government school, waste materials are turning into machines. A government school teacher is guiding students to build simple robots and drones using scrap, helping them understand science through hands-on learning.
Elon Musk's satellite internet service, Starlink, is now available in Kuwait. This announcement comes at a time when the country has found itself impacted by the US-Israel war with Iran.
Delhi University has rejected Rahul Gandhi's claim of caste bias in interviews. In a post on X, the university said the Leader of the Opposition should verify facts before making such statements.
Apple is rumoured to be making its debut in the foldable smartphone market this year with the iPhone fold. From the design to the features, and the expected price, here is everything you need to know about the first-ever foldable iPhone.
The Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE, has cancelled the Class 12 board examinations in several Middle Eastern countries due to the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war. The board also confirmed that the mechanism for announcing results for affected students will be announced at a later stage.
Chinese giant ByteDance has reportedly suspended its plans to release its latest AI video generation model, SeeDance 2.0, after major Hollywood studios raised disputes over copyright violations.
Bidyut Innovation MD Rahul Shah spoke during the India Today Conclave 2026. Shah reckoned that India could soon have its own robots competing those from other countries, perhaps at a fraction of the cost.
Alpha High School, an AI-driven education institute is rolling out a new course with a promise – earn $1 million by the time you graduate or you get a full refund. Here is how it works.
Devendra Singh Chaplot, an IIT Bombay alum has joined xAI to build super intelligence. His arrival was welcomed by xAI chief Elon Musk. Here is everything you need to know about xAI's latest Indian origin member.
Blending heritage with modern technology, Royal Enfield is preparing to enter the electric motorcycle space with the upcoming Royal Enfield Flying Flea C6, expected to debut in India around mid-2026.
IIT Madras and the Delhi government have signed an MoU to study 'smog-eating' surfaces to help tackle air pollution in the capital.