OpenAI is hiring a Head of Preparedness (Announcement), a critical leadership role announced publicly by CEO Sam Altman, as the company enters a new phase of rapidly advancing AI capabilities.\n\nAltman noted that while AI models are becoming capable of delivering tremendous benefits, they are also beginning to present serious challenges. These include potential impacts on mental health, the discovery of critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and risks associated with releasing powerful biological and self-improving systems.\n\n He emphasized that although OpenAI already has strong systems for measuring growing model capabilities, the organization now needs more nuanced methods to understand how those capabilities could be abused — and how to limit real-world harm without slowing progress. Many of these issues, Altman said, have little historical precedent and involve difficult edge cases.\n\nThe Head of Preparedness role will focus on anticipating, evaluating, and mitigating risks across domains such as cybersecurity, biological safety, and advanced autonomous systems. Altman described the position as demanding and high-impact, noting that candidates should expect to jump into the deep end almost immediately.\n\n Sam Altman directly encouraged qualified candidates to apply (Application Link), calling the role essential to ensuring that cutting-edge AI capabilities empower defenders and society while preventing misuse by malicious actors.