OpenAI has added two senior executives from government backgrounds to its leadership ranks, bringing in expertise in economics and compliance as the AI company faces growing influence and scrutiny.
Aaron "Ronnie" Chatterji, who recently served as chief economist at the Commerce Department under President Biden, joins as OpenAI's first chief economist. The company has also appointed Scott Schools, former associate deputy attorney general, as chief compliance officer.
Chatterji will lead research into AI's economic impacts, focusing on growth, job creation, and workforce adaptation. His recent role coordinating the $52 billion CHIPS Act implementation could prove valuable as OpenAI develops its own chip initiatives.
"My career has focused on studying how innovation and entrepreneurship shape our economy," Chatterji said. "I look forward to contributing to research that helps inform how we transition to an AI-driven economy."
Schools brings extensive legal and compliance experience from both government and tech sectors. At the Department of Justice, he guided national legal strategy and ethics matters before moving to Uber Technologies as chief ethics and compliance officer.
"Scott's deep expertise will further strengthen our team's ability to deliver beneficial AI technology while continuing to operate with the highest integrity standards," said Che Chang, OpenAI's General Counsel.
These appointments come as OpenAI works to understand and shape AI's economic effects while navigating complex regulatory challenges. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, an OpenAI board member, compared AI's potential economic impact to that of electricity, highlighting the significance of Chatterji's role in studying these transformations.
Both executives will work with OpenAI's board and teams across the company as it continues developing AI technologies that will serve as a powerful drivers for progress amid increasing public and regulatory attention.