OpenAI Hires Anthropic's Dylan Scandinaro as Head of Preparedness with $555K Package Amid AI Safety Focus

February 3, 2026
OpenAI Hires Anthropic's Dylan Scandinaro as Head of Preparedness with $555K Package Amid AI Safety Focus
  • 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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