OpenAI has announced the opening of a new senior position focused on managing the risks posed by advanced artificial intelligence systems, offering an annual salary of up to $555,000, underscoring the growing importance of AI safety and governance.

The role, titled Head of Preparedness, is designed to address the potential adverse effects of increasingly powerful AI technologies, including risks to mental health, cybersecurity, and broader societal stability. The position reflects mounting global concerns over how rapidly evolving AI models could be misused or deployed without adequate safeguards.

According to the job description, the selected candidate will be responsible for anticipating and mitigating high-impact risks associated with AI development and deployment. This includes ensuring that defensive technologies—particularly in cybersecurity—are strengthened, while preventing malicious actors from exploiting AI tools for harmful purposes.

OpenAI’s decision to attach an exceptionally high salary to the role highlights the critical nature of the responsibilities involved. As AI systems become more capable, concerns have grown about their potential misuse in areas such as cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and even biological research.

The Head of Preparedness will play a key role in designing strategies that allow cybersecurity defenders to benefit from advanced AI tools while ensuring that attackers are not granted the same advantages. Similar caution is expected when releasing sensitive capabilities, including those related to biological or self-improving systems, where errors or misuse could have far-reaching consequences.

The position also involves building confidence in the safety and reliability of AI systems, both within OpenAI and among policymakers, researchers, and the public. This includes developing frameworks to assess emerging threats and coordinating responses before risks escalate.

The opening comes at a time when governments and technology companies worldwide are grappling with how to regulate and control powerful AI systems. International discussions on AI governance, safety standards, and ethical deployment have intensified, with calls for stronger oversight as models become more autonomous and widely accessible.

OpenAI has positioned itself as a leader in responsible AI development, and the creation of the Head of Preparedness role signals a further institutional commitment to risk management. The company has previously emphasized the need for proactive safety planning rather than reactive responses once harm has already occurred.

While the compensation is substantial, the role is expected to be demanding. The successful candidate will need to step into complex and high-pressure situations immediately, balancing innovation with caution in a fast-moving technological landscape.

As AI continues to reshape industries and societies, OpenAI’s move reflects a broader recognition across the tech sector: managing the risks of artificial intelligence now requires dedicated leadership at the highest level, backed by both authority and expertise. (ILKHA)