OpenAI has hired Dylan Scandinaro, formerly at Anthropic, as Head of Preparedness to address risks from increasingly powerful AI models, signaling a heightened focus on safety and governance as AI capabilities expand.

The role commands a substantial package, with compensation up to $555,000 plus equity, underscoring the premium placed on safety leadership amid rapid AI advancement.

Industry context underscores safety as a competitive differentiator, with Anthropic cited for guardrails and an AI Constitution that assists enterprise adoption.

The article provides no additional details on responsibilities, timelines, or broader impact beyond the hire.

The Head of Preparedness role has a reputation as a hot seat with a history of quick turnover and past safety leaders moving to other roles within or outside the company.

Since mid-2024, the role has seen interim leaders and resignations, highlighting its critical importance to OpenAI’s roadmap and the challenges of safety leadership.

Bloomberg and The Verge corroborate the hiring, situating it within a broader industry pattern of talent moves around AI safety leadership.

The posting describes the role as leading technical teams, making high-stakes decisions under uncertainty, and aligning stakeholders around safety.

Altman has noted the role as stressful and emphasizes its scope in leading teams, deciding under uncertainty, and coordinating safety across the organization.

Initial compensation for the role is reported around $550,000 annually, roughly equivalent to Rs 4.16 crore.

OpenAI has publicly acknowledged concerns about mental health distress among some ChatGPT users and is consulting mental health professionals to refine responses.

The company’s efforts include engaging mental health experts to better handle distress cases in AI-assisted interactions.