OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and other AI industry leaders will testify before the U. S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Thursday at 10 a. m. ET, discussing AI's future and its impacts on the nation and world. Alongside Altman, AMD CEO Lisa Su, CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator, and Microsoft Vice Chair Brad Smith will participate. Senator Ted Cruz, committee chair, emphasized that the U. S. must surpass China in AI innovation rather than impose restrictive European-style regulations, as fostering AI growth will enhance national security, create jobs, and boost economic growth. This hearing aims to identify ways to ease constraints on the AI supply chain and promote American leadership in machine learning and advanced computing. Altman is spearheading the Stargate Project, a $500 billion investment to build AI infrastructure in the U. S. , intended to secure American leadership in AI, generate hundreds of thousands of jobs, and deliver global economic benefits. Ahead of the hearing, FOX Business released excerpts of Altman’s testimony, where he highlighted key AI advancements expected soon. He predicts that by 2025, AI-powered tools will manage complex software engineering and real-world tasks like scheduling medical appointments and supporting business operations, acting as collaborative super assistants across industries, medical fields, and research domains. By 2026, AI could unlock scientific breakthroughs addressing critical challenges in climate, health, and national security through designed experiments.

By 2027, AI-driven robotics could increase productivity in physical tasks, freeing people for more enjoyable and meaningful work. Altman referenced a 2016 Senate hearing chaired by Cruz where OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman estimated that artificial general intelligence (AGI) was 10 to 100 years away. Now, Altman asserted that AI has advanced enough that AGI is expected to emerge during President Trump’s remaining term (a statement possibly indicating accelerated progress). Despite AGI’s potential, Altman warned that ensuring its safety is crucial since the same capabilities that promise breakthroughs also pose new risks. OpenAI engages in rigorous red-teaming exercises and leads the industry in transparency to mitigate these dangers. Ultimately, Altman believes the positive impacts of AI will vastly outweigh the negatives. Describing the coming era as the "Intelligence Age, " Altman envisions a future where everyone’s quality of life can surpass that of today. He stressed that achieving this requires proactive measures to ensure American-led AI development, grounded in democratic values like freedom and transparency, prevails over authoritarian models. The stakes are high, and Congress must lead the effort. The Stargate Project’s flagship facility is located in Abilene, Texas. On Wednesday, Altman, Brockman, and OpenAI Vice President of Infrastructure Peter Hoeschele visited the site to monitor progress. Additionally, OpenAI announced "OpenAI for Countries, " a new initiative to assist governments interested in establishing their own AI infrastructure modeled after Stargate.