Openai's chief economist details the skills needed to work on his team

Ronnie Chatterji, OpenAI's chief economist, has outlined the qualities and skills required to work on his research team, which focuses on the economic impact of artificial intelligence. Chatterji, who previously held roles in the Biden White House and the U.S. Commerce Department, emphasizes the need for flexibility and rigorous economic thinking in a rapidly evolving field. His team studies how AI is affecting workers, employers, and the broader economy, with topics such as recursive self-improvement in AI systems now under consideration. Chatterji, who reports to OpenAI's finance chief Sarah Friar, leads a team of about a dozen researchers, including economists, data scientists, and professionals from various backgrounds. He is looking to expand the team but has not specified the number of new hires. The team's work is driven by three main questions: how AI is changing work today, how businesses are adopting and reorganizing around AI, and what the future implications of increasingly capable AI could be for the economy. Chatterji highlights the importance of collaboration, speed, and self-direction, noting that the pace of innovation at OpenAI is 'a little insane.' He also points to his own academic background in innovation and entrepreneurship as an example of the diverse expertise needed for the role.