OpenAI Expands 12-Person Economics Team as Chief Economist Tracks AI's Shifting Job Impact
Updated
Updated · Business Insider · Aug 22
OpenAI Expands 12-Person Economics Team as Chief Economist Tracks AI's Shifting Job Impact
3 articles · Updated · Business Insider · Aug 22
Summary
About a dozen researchers at OpenAI are studying how AI is changing work, business adoption and the broader economy, with chief economist Ronnie Chatterji saying the team is still hiring.
Chatterji said the work shifts so fast that economists must be "comfortable with being uncomfortable"—topics such as recursive self-improvement were not even on his radar a year ago.
The 48-year-old former White House CHIPS coordinator said speed, collaboration and self-direction are essential because studies can look dated within weeks and the team fields questions from governments, universities and OpenAI colleagues.
Created after Chatterji joined OpenAI in 2024, the chief economist role reflects how the ChatGPT maker is building in-house capacity to measure AI's labor-market effects as public demand for answers grows.