'This will be a stressful job': Altman offers $555k for most daunting role in AI (www.theguardian.com)

OpenAI has announced a high-stakes vacancy for a "head of preparedness," offering a salary of $555,000 per year. This role, described by CEO Sam Altman as a "stressful job," involves tackling the pressing risks that powerful AI systems pose to human mental health, cybersecurity, and global safety. The successful candidate will be tasked with evaluating and mitigating emerging threats while preparing for the potential of self-training AIs that could act harmfully. This position highlights an urgent need for effective risk management strategies in an industry facing increasing scrutiny and anxiety over the implications of advanced AI technologies. The announcement comes amid growing concerns from AI leaders about regulation and the potential for misuse of AI capabilities. With little existing framework to govern AI, experts like Demis Hassabis and Yoshua Bengio have called for more attention to safety measures. OpenAI is currently dealing with lawsuits related to alleged harms caused by its technology, leading to increased urgency in improving training methods to recognize and respond to distress signals. Altman emphasizes the necessity of a nuanced understanding of AI capabilities and their potential for abuse, underscoring the critical nature of this newly created role in shaping a safer AI landscape.