Ever wondered what it takes to land a job at an artificial intelligence (AI) company like OpenAI? Sam Altman-led OpenAI’s economic research team is looking for researchers who can combine strong analytical skills with flexibility, collaboration, and independent thinking.
According to Ronnie Chatterji, OpenAI's chief economist, understanding AI's impact on jobs is a job in itself, with employees on the research team being tasked with studying how the technology is affecting workers, businesses, institutions, and the broader economy, Business Insider reported Saturday (local time).
Chatterji said succeeding in these roles requires a combination of skills and adaptability, as the fast pace of AI development can quickly shift the direction of the team’s work. He added that the economic research team's work is evolving alongside AI. Topics that were not previously part of 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.
Speaking to Business Insider, Chatterji said, "The job description is changing a lot."
After working in policymaking and academia, Chatterji joined OpenAI in 2024. Some of his previous stints included working as a coordinator for the former US President Joe Biden administration's $52 billion CHIPS programme. He also served as an acting deputy director of the National Economic Council. Chatterji was also the chief economist at the US Commerce Department and is a professor of business and public policy at Duke University.
At OpenAI, he is tasked with leading an economic research team of roughly a dozen people, which includes economists, data scientists, business professionals, former teachers, and former government workers, and he said he is looking to hire more people.
Chatterji said the team’s research broadly focuses on three key areas: the impact AI is currently having on jobs, how businesses are adopting the technology and restructuring their organisations, and the potential economic implications of increasingly advanced AI systems.
Elaborating on what his team is looking for in new hires, Chatterji said candidates must be comfortable working on questions that don't usually have a straightforward answer. He noted, "You have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable,” highlighting the importance of rigorous economic thinking combined with an ability to adapt as the subject changes.
Another important requirement is collaboration. The economic research team works not just with OpenAI employees, but with governments and universities as well. Chatterji noted that the complexity of AI’s economic effects makes cooperation across organisations important.
He added that the team members are expected to identify crucial problems on their own rather than executing a predetermined research agenda. Chatterji said they need to consider which questions are worth investigating and who could benefit from the resulting work.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the economy, Chatterji’s team is looking for researchers who can keep pace with its rapid evolution while asking the questions that matter most.
Swati Gandhi is a digital journalist with over four years of experience, specialising in international and geopolitical issues. Her work focuses on foreign policy, global power shifts, and the political and economic forces shaping international relations, with a particular emphasis on how global developments affect India. She approaches journalism with a strong belief in context-driven reporting, aiming to break down complex global events into clear, accessible narratives for a wide readership.<br><br>
Previously, Swati has worked at Business Standard, where she covered a range of beats including national affairs, politics, and business. This diverse newsroom experience helped her build a strong grounding in reporting, while also strengthening her ability to work across both breaking news and in-depth explanatory stories. Covering multiple beats early in her career has helped her be informed about her current work, allowing her to connect domestic developments with wider international trends.<br><br>
At Live Mint, she focuses on international and geopolitical issues through a business and economic lens, examining how global political developments, foreign policy decisions, and power shifts impact markets, industries, and India’s strategic and economic interests.<br><br>
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English (Honours) from the University of Delhi and a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. Her academic training has shaped her emphasis on precision, analytical rigour, and clarity in writing. Her interests include global political economy and the intersection of geopolitics with business.<br><br>
Outside work, Swati focuses on exploring her passion and love for food. From fancy cafes to street spots, Swati explores food like a true foodie.
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