OpenAI Warns of an AI Productivity Divide

The Race Between AI Potential and Human Adoption

At the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, OpenAI sounded a global warning: while artificial intelligence continues to evolve at staggering speed, the world isn’t keeping up. This phenomenon—what OpenAI calls a “capability overhang”—is the widening gap between what AI can do and how effectively people, businesses, and governments are actually using it.

According to OpenAI, most users tap into only a fraction of the potential offered by tools like ChatGPT, even as its ability to handle complex, multi-step tasks grows nearly every seven months.

A New Kind of Productivity Divide

This growing divide may determine the winners and losers of the next economic era. OpenAI cautioned that countries, industries, and workers who embrace AI deeply will reap major economic gains—while those who lag risk being left behind.

The company likened today’s AI moment to the early days of personal computing. Just as early adopters of PCs transformed entire industries, those mastering AI now are positioned to lead in productivity, innovation, and growth.

Key Findings from OpenAI’s Research

OpenAI’s internal data reveals stark contrasts between different types of users:

Power users deploy up to 7 times more computing power than average users.
They use AI more comprehensively—across customer service, data analysis, marketing, and even creative tasks.
Most businesses still rely on basic chat features, underutilizing AI’s strategic capabilities.

Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, summed it up at Davos: “The leader in AI will be the company that turns frontier research into products that are undeniably useful for people, businesses, and developers.”

Three Principles for Closing the AI Gap

To tackle the capability overhang and unlock AI’s full potential, OpenAI outlined three guiding principles:

1. Measure the Real-World Impact of AI

OpenAI called for more research on how AI affects jobs, productivity, and economic output—arguing that credible data is essential to guide responsible adoption.

2. Democratize Access

The company highlighted its free ChatGPT tier, supported by ads, as a key step in making powerful AI tools accessible to individuals, educators, and small businesses worldwide.

3. Empower Customization

AI technology must remain flexible, allowing users to adapt it for unexpected, creative purposes—from managing household budgets to launching startups.

These principles, OpenAI says, are vital for ensuring that AI enhances society broadly rather than concentrating benefits among a few tech-savvy players.

The Stakes at Davos: An AI-Powered Future

OpenAI’s broader message at Davos is one of both urgency and opportunity. The company believes AI could fuel double-digit GDP growth, expand access to affordable healthcare, and accelerate scientific discovery—but only if societies bridge the capability gap.

CEO Sam Altman put it bluntly: “There’s a massive gap between the economic value AI systems represent and the value the world has figured out how to extract.”

The call to action is clear: AI literacy, investment in adoption, and broad participation will determine whether the technology truly transforms global productivity—or creates an even deeper digital divide.