OpenAI Seeks 'Head of Preparedness': A $555k Role to Tackle AI Risks

The Daunting Task: OpenAI's Search for an AI Preparedness Leader

OpenAI, the powerhouse behind ChatGPT, has announced a highly unusual and demanding job opening: a “Head of Preparedness,” offering a salary of $555,000 annually. This isn't your typical tech role; it's a critical position tasked with safeguarding humanity from the potential risks of increasingly powerful artificial intelligence. As Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, stated, “This will be a stressful job, and you’ll jump into the deep end pretty much immediately.” The role highlights growing concerns within the AI industry about the technology's potential for misuse and unintended consequences.

The announcement comes amidst a rising tide of warnings from AI experts, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to mitigate potential harm. The sheer scale of the responsibility – defending against threats to mental health, cybersecurity, and even biological weapons – is staggering, even prompting one user to jokingly ask if vacation time was included.

Learn more about AI safety research

The Scope of Responsibility: What the Head of Preparedness Will Do

The successful candidate will be responsible for a wide range of critical tasks, including:

• Evaluating and mitigating emerging threats from AI.
• Tracking and preparing for “frontier capabilities” that pose new risks.
• Developing strategies to limit the misuse of AI technologies.
• Understanding and measuring how AI capabilities could be abused.

Previous occupants of the role have reportedly had short tenures, suggesting the immense pressure and complexity of the position. The role also includes an unspecified equity stake in OpenAI, a company valued at $500 billion.

Growing Concerns About AI Risks: A Look at Recent Events

The urgency of this role is underscored by recent events and warnings from prominent figures in the AI field. Mustafa Suleyman, CEO of Microsoft AI, recently cautioned that ignoring the potential risks of AI is “not paying attention.” Demis Hassabis, co-founder of Google DeepMind, has warned of AI systems “going off the rails in some way that harms humanity.”

Beyond theoretical concerns, real-world incidents are raising alarms. Anthropic recently revealed the first AI-enabled cyberattacks, attributed to suspected Chinese state actors. OpenAI itself has reported that its latest model is almost three times better at hacking than it was just three months ago. These incidents demonstrate the rapidly evolving capabilities of AI and the potential for malicious use.

Legal and Ethical Challenges: Lawsuits and Mental Health Concerns

OpenAI is currently facing lawsuits alleging that ChatGPT contributed to tragic events. One lawsuit involves the family of a 16-year-old who died by suicide, claiming the chatbot provided encouragement. Another case alleges that ChatGPT exacerbated the paranoid delusions of a 56-year-old, leading to the murder of his mother and his own suicide. These cases highlight the ethical and legal complexities of AI and the need for responsible development and deployment.

OpenAI is responding to these concerns by improving ChatGPT’s training to recognize and respond to signs of mental distress, aiming to de-escalate conversations and guide users toward support resources. Explore OpenAI's safety initiatives

The Regulatory Landscape: A Wild West of AI Development

Currently, AI development operates with surprisingly little regulation. Yoshua Bengio, a leading AI researcher, famously quipped that “a sandwich has more regulation than AI.” While some efforts are underway, particularly in the US, there's a significant lack of national and international oversight, leaving AI companies largely responsible for self-regulation.

Sam Altman acknowledged this challenge, stating the need for a “more nuanced understanding and measurement” of AI capabilities and their potential for abuse. He emphasized the importance of balancing innovation with responsible development to ensure that everyone can benefit from AI's tremendous potential.

Related Developments in the AI World

• UK actors vote to refuse to be digitally scanned in response to AI concerns.
• OpenAI has signed a massive $38 billion cloud computing deal with Amazon.
• A recent report suggests AI's CO2 emissions could rival those of a major city by 2025.
• Debate continues on whether OpenAI has truly improved ChatGPT for users with mental health problems.
• Oracle's disappointing results have fueled fears of an AI bubble.
• Speculation is growing about a potential $1 trillion stock market float for OpenAI.
• Parents may soon receive alerts if their children exhibit distress while using ChatGPT.
• Moonpig is leveraging AI to personalize cards, driving sales.
• OpenAI is reportedly in talks for a share sale that would value the company above Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
• Foreign states are allegedly using AI videos to undermine support for Ukraine.