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OpenAI Seeks New Head of Preparedness to Confront Emerging AI Risks

The move signals an urgent reset of safety oversight prompted by mounting risk, lawsuits, plus leadership churn.

Overview

  • OpenAI posted a senior role to lead technical strategy and execute its Preparedness framework for frontier risks across cybersecurity, biosecurity, and self‑improving systems.
  • The position pays $555,000 per year plus equity and is listed in San Francisco.
  • CEO Sam Altman said models are starting to pose real challenges, pointing to mental‑health impacts and systems that can find critical security vulnerabilities, and he warned the job will be stressful with immediate demands.
  • The search follows significant safety leadership turnover since 2024, including the reassignment of Aleksander Madry and departures or role changes involving Lilian Weng, Joaquin Quinonero Candela, and Andrea Vallone.
  • OpenAI recently updated its Preparedness Framework and indicated it could adjust safety requirements in response to competitor releases, as wrongful‑death lawsuits and broader scrutiny intensify.