OpenAI appoints new 'Head of Preparedness' amid legal challenges
What's the story
OpenAI has appointed Dylan Scandrett as its new Head of Preparedness, a position dedicated to risk mitigation. The announcement was made by CEO Sam Altman on X. He said he was thrilled to welcome Scandrett and hinted at rapid developments in the company's work with "extremely powerful models."
Responsibilities
Altman emphasizes need for safeguards alongside AI advancements
Altman stressed that the progress OpenAI is making will require "commensurate safeguards" to ensure the company continues to deliver benefits responsibly. He said Scandrett will lead their efforts to prepare for and mitigate these severe risks. Altman described him as "by far the best candidate" for this important role, adding that while he has a lot of work ahead, his appointment gives him peace of mind.
Risk assessment
New role comes as OpenAI faces legal challenges over safety
The new preparedness role at OpenAI seems to take on the responsibility of assessing and responding to potential high-impact risks from frontier AI systems. This comes as the company faces legal trouble over its safety mechanisms. In December, OpenAI and its largest financial backer Microsoft were sued in California state court over claims that ChatGPT encouraged a mentally ill man to kill his mother and himself.