OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, is hiring for what may be one of the most demanding jobs in tech. The company has posted a vacancy offering up to $555,000 a year for a new Head of Preparedness, a role focused on protecting society from the risks of increasingly powerful artificial intelligence.
The job description is not for the faint-hearted. The successful candidate will be responsible for defending against threats linked to AI, including mental health harm, cybersecurity attacks, and even biological weapons misuse.
A Role That Jumps Straight Into the Deep End
Sam Altman, OpenAI’s chief executive, made it clear this is no gentle onboarding. Writing on X, Altman described the position as a “critical role” and warned that it would be stressful from day one.
The Head of Preparedness will evaluate emerging AI threats, track frontier capabilities, and work out how to reduce the risk of severe harm. Past holders of similar roles, both at OpenAI and elsewhere, have not always stayed long.
In short, this is the kind of job where “quiet weeks” do not exist.
Industry Leaders Sound the Alarm
The hiring push comes as senior figures across the AI industry grow more vocal about the dangers of fast-moving technology.
Earlier this week, Microsoft AI chief executive Mustafa Suleyman told BBC Radio 4 that anyone not feeling uneasy about current AI developments is “not paying attention.”
Meanwhile, Google DeepMind co-founder Demis Hassabis warned that advanced AI systems could “go off the rails” in ways that harm humanity.
Even Yoshua Bengio, often called one of the godfathers of AI, recently joked that a sandwich faces more regulation than artificial intelligence.
Regulation Still Thin on the Ground
Despite the warnings, AI regulation remains limited at both national and international levels. Resistance from the White House under Donald Trump has slowed broader oversight efforts, leaving companies like OpenAI to largely police themselves.
Altman acknowledged the challenge, saying OpenAI needs more nuanced ways to measure how AI capabilities might be abused, and how to limit those risks while still delivering benefits.
One social media user summed up the mood with dry humor, replying to the job post: “Sounds pretty chill. Is there vacation included?”
Big Pay, Big Stakes
Alongside the salary, the role includes an unspecified equity stake in OpenAI, which is currently valued at around $500 billion. That valuation reflects both the company’s influence and the scale of responsibility attached to the job.
The urgency is not theoretical. Last month, rival AI firm Anthropic reported the first known AI-assisted cyberattacks where systems operated largely autonomously under suspected Chinese state supervision.
OpenAI itself recently said its latest model performs almost three times better at hacking tasks than it did just three months ago, and expects future models to continue improving.
Legal Pressure Adds to the Scrutiny
OpenAI is also facing legal challenges tied to real-world harm. The company is defending a lawsuit from the family of a 16-year-old California boy who died by suicide after alleged encouragement from ChatGPT. Another case claims the system reinforced the delusions of a Connecticut man who later killed his mother and himself.
An OpenAI spokesperson said the company is reviewing the filings and described the cases as heartbreaking. The spokesperson added that OpenAI is improving ChatGPT’s training to better recognize emotional distress, de-escalate conversations, and guide users toward real-world support.
A Job That Reflects the Moment
The search for a Head of Preparedness underlines a simple truth. As AI grows more capable, the risks grow with it. OpenAI’s new role is less about science fiction and more about damage control in real time.
For the right candidate, the pay is huge. The pressure may be even bigger.
