OpenAI Hires Anthropic's Dylan Scandinaro as Head of Preparedness with $555K Package Amid AI Safety Focus
February 3, 2026
OpenAI has appointed Dylan Scandinaro, formerly of Anthropic, as Head of Preparedness to oversee risk mitigation as AI models become more capable.
The role offers a compensation package up to $555,000 plus equity, underscoring a tight focus on safety amid rapid AI development.
Anthropic is highlighted as a safety-forward competitor, known for guardrails and concepts like an AI Constitution that aid enterprise adoption.
While the excerpt provides the hire details, it does not offer further specifics on responsibilities, timelines, or broader impact.
Bloomberg and The Verge corroborate the hire, situating it within a broader industry push toward safety leadership.
OpenAI has previously disclosed concerns about mental health distress among some ChatGPT users and is consulting mental health experts to improve responses.
The job posting describes the role as leading technical teams, making high-stakes decisions under uncertainty, and aligning stakeholders around safety.
The compensation for this role is reported to start around $550,000 per year.
OpenAI's trajectory includes ChatGPT’s launch in late 2022, growing user adoption, and substantial revenue, with a valuations context of around $500 billion.
Industry reaction points to a competitive talent market among Google, Meta, Anthropic, and OpenAI, with investors watching moves for implications on innovation and regulation.
OpenAI’s broader milestone narrative highlights rapid growth and scale in AI, reinforcing the strategic importance of safety leadership.
The hire occurs amid ongoing scrutiny of OpenAI’s safety approach, leadership changes, and lawsuits related to user harm from tools like ChatGPT.
Summary based on 16 sources
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Sources

Business Insider • Feb 4, 2026
OpenAI just snagged an Anthropic safety researcher for its high-profile head of preparedness role
The Times Of India • Feb 4, 2026
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman shares update on $555,000 position he shared hiring note on, says: Things are about to ...
