OpenAI seeks Head of Preparedness role to address AI risks

OpenAI is seeking to hire a Head of Preparedness to address risks linked to the rapid spread of AI. Chief executive Sam Altman announced the search in a Dec. 27 post on X.

Altman said the role is critical as AI models improve quickly and begin to create new challenges. He said the technology is capable of many positive uses but is also raising serious concerns.

OpenAI first drew broad public attention to AI chatbots after launching ChatGPT in November 2022. Since then, the system has grown to a large global user base.

Altman said the company saw early signs in 2025 of AI’s potential impact on mental health. He also said AI systems are now becoming strong enough in computer security to uncover critical vulnerabilities.

The hiring effort comes as OpenAI faces several lawsuits tied to mental health issues. In November, seven complaints were filed in California alleging that ChatGPT contributed to severe psychological harm.

According to the filings, three people were led into delusional thinking, while four others were encouraged to take their own lives. The lawsuits claim the deaths followed conversations with ChatGPT about suicide, including instances where the chatbot romanticized the act.

Concerns about AI and cybersecurity have also been raised in multiple reports. A May report from McKinsey & Company warned that AI used for fraud detection can also expose sensitive data.

Accenture’s State of Cybersecurity Resilience 2025 report said 90 percent of companies lack sufficient modernization to defend against AI-driven threats. An August threat report from Anthropic described AI being used to conduct advanced cybercrime.

Altman said OpenAI has a strong foundation for measuring AI capabilities but now needs more nuanced methods to assess misuse. He said the job will be demanding and involve difficult questions with little precedent.

The San Francisco-based role offers $555,000 in annual compensation plus equity. Duties include building threat models, evaluating risks, and designing safeguards across areas such as cyber and biology.

As of September, ChatGPT had 700 million weekly active users worldwide.

Public warnings about AI risks continue to grow. Computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton said AI could cause mass unemployment and potentially surpass human control. Legal scholar Maria Randazzo warned that AI development could undermine human dignity if not carefully guided.