OpenAI has filled a prominent AI safety position by hiring Dylan Scand, a former safety researcher at rival lab Anthropic, as its new head of preparedness.
The role, which offers a salary of up to $555,000 plus equity, drew attention last month amid growing scrutiny of OpenAI’s approach to managing advanced AI risks.
CEO Sam Altman announced the hire on X, calling Scand the strongest candidate he had encountered for the role and saying OpenAI will soon be working with increasingly powerful models.
Scand said he was grateful for his time at Anthropic and emphasized both the promise and potential dangers of rapidly advancing AI.
The hire comes as OpenAI faces ongoing debate over safety, following departures of several early employees and criticism related to how its tools interact with users, including those showing signs of mental health distress.