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OpenAI’s ‘Project Mercury’ Recruits 100+ Ex-Bankers to Teach AI Junior Finance Work

Contractors, recruited through third-party suppliers, earn about $150 an hour to produce vetted financial models used as training data.

Overview

  • The initiative targets routine analyst tasks such as Excel modeling for IPOs, restructurings, mergers and buyouts, plus slide edits in PowerPoint.
  • OpenAI acknowledged collaborating with external experts, with management and compensation handled by outside staffing providers.
  • Applicants face an automated screening that includes a 20-minute chatbot interview, financial statement testing and a modeling exercise.
  • Contractors are expected to submit one model each week, receive feedback and correct issues before their work is integrated into OpenAI’s systems.
  • Participants include former staff from major banks and buy-side firms as well as MBA students from top schools, and a person familiar with the program said they receive early access to developing tools.