You need these skills to join OpenAI's economic research team
What's the story
Ronnie Chatterji, OpenAI's Chief Economist, has revealed the skills required to join his economic research team. The team is looking for researchers who can combine strong analytical skills with flexibility, collaboration, and independent thinking. Chatterji said that understanding AI's impact on jobs is a job in itself and employees are tasked with studying how this technology affects workers, businesses, institutions, and the wider economy.
Skillset requirements
Chatterji emphasizes adaptability and a mix of skills
Chatterji emphasized that success in these roles requires a mix of skills and adaptability, as the fast pace of AI development can quickly change the team's focus.
He noted that the economic research team's work is evolving with AI.
Topics not previously on their research agenda can become important quickly as technology continues to advance at a fast pace.
One such area he cited was recursive self-improvement, or AI systems becoming capable of improving themselves.
Career trajectory
Chatterji's background and his role at OpenAI
Before joining OpenAI in 2024, Chatterji had a career in policymaking and academia.
He was the coordinator for the Joe Biden administration's $52 billion CHIPS program and served as acting deputy director of the National Economic Council.
At OpenAI, he leads an economic research team of around a dozen people including economists, data scientists, business professionals, former teachers, and former government workers.
Research areas
Research focus areas and traits for new hires
Chatterji's team focuses on three main areas: the current impact of AI on jobs, how businesses are adopting this technology and restructuring their organizations, and the potential economic implications of advanced AI systems.
He said candidates must be comfortable tackling questions that don't have straightforward answers.
"You have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable," he stressed, emphasizing rigorous economic thinking along with adaptability as key traits for new hires.
Team dynamics
The importance of collaboration in the research process
Chatterji also stressed the importance of collaboration in his team. They work not just with OpenAI employees but also with governments and universities.
The complexity of AI's economic effects makes cross-organizational cooperation important.
He said team members are expected to identify key problems independently instead of following a set research agenda.
They need to think about which questions are worth pursuing and who might benefit from the resulting work.