Sam Altman Adopts Polyphasic Sleep Due to GPT-5.5 Advancements in Codex

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, announced on X that he is switching to polyphasic sleep. He cited the release of GPT-5.5 in Codex as the reason for this change. Altman explained that the new model is so effective he cannot afford to miss work by sleeping for long periods.

Key Highlights

• Sam Altman switches to polyphasic sleep after GPT-5.5 release in Codex.
• OpenAI's Codex with GPT-5.5 enables faster code generation and debugging.
• NVIDIA engineers report measurable gains using Codex on GB200 NVL72 systems.
• Altman challenges the idea that AI reduces human work.

This statement comes amid ongoing debates about artificial intelligence and its impact on work. While many expect AI to reduce workloads, Altman’s comments suggest the opposite may be happening for some professionals.

AI Progress and Workload Impacts

OpenAI recently released GPT-5.5 in Codex, a tool designed to help developers generate, debug, and optimize code. The improvements in Codex are enabling faster development cycles. This has the potential to increase productivity expectations rather than reduce the need for human workers.

Altman’s remarks challenge the belief that automation will decrease human labor. He noted that advanced AI tools are currently amplifying productivity, not eliminating jobs. In his X post, Altman also speculated about a future “post-AGI” world. He suggested that, in such a scenario, no one would work and the economy could collapse. However, he clarified that this is not the current reality.

Codex Deployment and Industry Collaboration

After launching GPT-5.5, OpenAI partnered with NVIDIA to deploy Codex on a large scale. Altman shared that OpenAI rolled out Codex across an entire company using NVIDIA infrastructure. He described the results as impressive.

NVIDIA confirmed in a blog post that its engineers have used GPT-5.5 through the Codex app for several weeks. The company reported measurable productivity gains. Codex, powered by GPT-5.5, is now running on NVIDIA GB200 NVL72 rack-scale systems.

Broader Context in AI Development

Altman’s decision to change his sleep schedule highlights the growing influence of advanced AI tools. Rather than reducing workloads, these tools may be increasing the pace and urgency of work for those developing and using them. The debate about AI’s impact on employment and productivity continues as new models like GPT-5.5 are adopted in the tech industry.