OpenAI is recruiting a new Head of Preparedness to anticipate and mitigate potential harms from its AI models. The role comes amid concerns over ChatGPT's impact on mental health, including lawsuits. CEO Sam Altman described the position as critical and stressful.
OpenAI, a leading AI research organization, has announced it is seeking a candidate for the role of Head of Preparedness. This position will focus on predicting the risks associated with advanced AI models, including ways they might be abused, to shape the company's overall safety strategy.
The hiring follows a challenging year for OpenAI, marked by accusations regarding ChatGPT's effects on users' mental health. Several wrongful death lawsuits have highlighted these issues. In a post on X, CEO Sam Altman noted that the "potential impact of models on mental health was something we saw a preview of in 2025," alongside other significant challenges tied to AI capabilities. He emphasized that the Head of Preparedness role is "a critical role at an important time."
According to the job listing, the new hire will earn $555,000 annually, plus equity, and lead the technical strategy and execution of OpenAI’s Preparedness framework. This framework outlines the company's method for monitoring and preparing for emerging capabilities that could lead to severe harms. Altman warned that it is "a stressful job and you'll jump into the deep end pretty much immediately."
The role has seen turnover in recent years. In July 2024, former Head of Preparedness Aleksander Madry was reassigned, with executives Joaquin Quinonero Candela and Lilian Weng stepping in temporarily. Weng departed shortly after, and in July 2025, Quinonero Candela shifted to head OpenAI's recruiting efforts.
This move underscores OpenAI's ongoing efforts to bolster its safety measures as AI technologies advance rapidly.
