The AI Talent Gap: Regulators Struggle to Compete with Tech Giants
The rapid rise of AI, exemplified by the surprise launch of ChatGPT, has left regulators scrambling to keep pace with the industry’s breakneck development. As governments around the world rush to establish new AI programs and regulations, they face a critical challenge: attracting top AI talent to their ranks. However, the salaries offered by regulatory bodies pale in comparison to those in the private sector, raising concerns about the ability of governments to effectively oversee and shape the future of AI.
Regulators Seek AI Experts, but at What Cost?
In an effort to bolster their AI expertise, regulatory agencies are posting job openings that have raised eyebrows among AI researchers and engineers. For instance, the European AI Office, a key player in implementing the EU’s AI Act, recently listed vacancies for technology specialists in AI with a master’s degree and at least one year of experience. The annual salary for these positions starts at a mere €47,320 ($51,730), a figure that seems out of touch with the current AI boom.
Similarly, the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation & Technology is seeking a Head of the International AI Safety Report to help guide a landmark global report stemming from the UK’s global AI Safety Summit. Despite requiring expertise in frontier AI safety or the ability to quickly upskill in a complex new policy area, the position offers a salary of just £64,660 ($82,730) per year.
The Widening Gap Between Public and Private Sector Compensation
The salaries offered by regulatory bodies stand in stark contrast to the astronomical sums being offered within the tech industry. According to data compiled by Levels.fyi, the median total compensation for workers at OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, is a staggering $560,000, including stock grants. Even the lowest verified compensation at OpenAI, for a recruiter, is $190,000.
At Anthropic, an Amazon-backed rival known for its Claude chatbot, the median compensation is $212,500, still far exceeding what regulators are currently offering. The lower 25th percentile for jobs in machine learning and AI is $172,500. Moreover, stock grants included in tech industry compensation packages can lead to massive windfalls if a company’s value increases, as evidenced by OpenAI’s current valuation of $80 billion.
“There’s a brain drain happening across every government across the world. Part of the reason why is that private companies not only have a better working environment, but also will offer significantly higher salaries.”
Nolan Church, cofounder and CEO at FairComp, a company that tracks salary data to help workers negotiate better pay, expresses concern about the growing disparity between private and public sector compensation. He believes that governments should be attracting the best and brightest minds, but questions how they can convince top talent to take a substantial pay cut.
The Urgent Need for Competitive Compensation in AI Regulation
While it is not uncommon for government jobs to pay less than those in the private sector, the current AI boom has made this disconnect more significant and pressing. Tech companies and corporations in other industries are fiercely competing for AI-savvy talent, and the rapid pace of AI development means that regulators must act swiftly to keep up.
Jack Clark, a cofounder of Anthropic, took to X (formerly Twitter) to compare the EU AI Office’s salary offer to tech industry internships, emphasizing the need for governments to offer competitive wages if they hope to carry out ambitious AI regulation. While he acknowledges that governments may not need to match industry salaries, he stresses that they must at least be in the same ballpark.
As the AI race continues to accelerate, it is becoming increasingly clear that regulators must find ways to attract and retain top AI talent if they hope to effectively oversee and shape the future of this transformative technology. Failure to do so could leave governments ill-equipped to address the complex challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid advancement of AI.
2 Comments
Regulators can’t keep up with AI advancements, leaving the public at risk!
AI oversight is a complex challenge that requires substantial investment in expertise.