OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Astra is no existential threat, warns AI safety must keep pace with capability

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said the company's current flagship model, Astra, does not represent an existential threat, while acknowledging that the rapid growth in AI capabilities is pushing the industry into a new phase where safety measures must keep pace with increasingly powerful systems, according to a Fortune interview.Altman's comments came amid growing concerns over autonomous AI agents and incidents involving models operating beyond their intended environments. He said the challenge is no longer simply developing more capable systems, but demonstrating that safeguards remain effective as those capabilities expand.“We have not solved alignment,” he said, referring to efforts to ensure AI systems remain consistent with human values.“I believe no lab has solved alignment.