OpenAI CEO: Talent trumps age in tech hiring
CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES — In a refreshing departure from Silicon Valley‘s age-focused hiring practices, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has outlined a balanced approach to recruitment that emphasizes raw talent over age brackets.
Speaking on Harry Stebbings’ “The Twenty Minute VC” podcast, Altman articulated his vision for building diverse teams that combine youthful innovation with seasoned expertise.
The value of mixed experience
“You want both, and I think what you really want is just like an extremely high talent bar of people at any age, ” Altman said.
“A strategy that says ‘I’m only going to hire younger people,’ or ‘I’m only going to hire older people,’ I believe, would be misguided.”
The benefits of employing older workers extend beyond filling positions. Christine Porath, a professor at the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, notes that seasoned workers can offer invaluable mentorship and training to younger colleagues, enhancing the overall knowledge and effectiveness of the workforce.
“They get a boost, a sense of vitality and learning and growing, which is useful, because we know that a sense of thriving increases their performance and productivity,” Porath explained.
While advocating for giving opportunities to promising young talent, Altman maintained a practical stance on high-stakes projects. He expressed reservations about entrusting complex, expensive systems to completely inexperienced staff, highlighting the need for balanced judgment in role assignments.
Industry-wide talent wars
At the senior level, companies are engaged in aggressive talent acquisition, exemplified by Google’s $2.7 billion deal with Character.ai to secure top AI expertise. Microsoft similarly invested $650 million to acquire Inflection’s leading minds.
However, the employment picture looks different for entry-level positions. Business Insider reported that recent graduates with impressive credentials, including degrees from prestigious institutions and relevant internships, face challenges in securing tech roles. The situation is further complicated by increasing automation, offshore operations, and ongoing industry layoffs.
This hiring environment has created unique challenges across age groups. While younger workers report facing stereotypes about their work ethic, older tech professionals describe encountering age-related discrimination, particularly during layoffs.
Looking beyond tech skills for AI talent
As artificial intelligence continues to grow in importance, unique roles such as AI ethicists and prompt engineers are emerging. However, Robert Half cautions that not all positions require deep technical expertise.
The firm states, “Too often stereotypes are hindering talent attraction in this remit, due to an unnecessary focus on coding skills or requirements for technology experience.”
Instead, Robert Half emphasizes the importance of softer skills for nurturing sustainable AI talent, including collaboration, critical thinking, and adaptability.
