When ChatGPT initiated a new artificial intelligence competition, it caught the attention of authorities worldwide. Legislators and regulators globally have been striving to keep pace and impede progress as companies race to develop and launch even more advanced models.
Around the globe, officials are urgently seeking to recruit AI researchers due to the emergence of new AI initiatives by various governments. However, some job postings for positions appear rather unimpressive, eliciting laughter from both AI researchers and engineers. The salaries offered in these positions seem meager amidst the current AI boom.
Earlier this month, the German AI Office announced job openings, expecting applicants to commence work in the autumn. These roles are crucial for the implementation of the EU’s AI Act. They are seeking technology specialists in artificial intelligence with a master’s degree in computer science or engineering and at least one year of experience. The annual salaries start at €47,320 ($51,730).
Similarly, the UK administration’s Department for Science, Innovation & Technology is also on the lookout for AI professionals. One available position is for the Head of the International AI Safety Report, who will play a key role in guiding a significant global report following the UK’s World AI Safety Summit next month. The job advertisement specifies the requirement of expertise in broader AI safety and/or demonstrable experience in quickly upskilling in a complex new policy area. The salary offered for this role is £64,660 ($82,730) per year.
Despite the tax exemption offered by the EU, the earnings fall significantly below the substantial amounts being offered in the industry. According to Levels.fyi, a platform that aggregates verified compensation data for the software industry, the median full compensation for employees at OpenAI amounts to \(560,000, including stock options, which are common in the tech sector. The lowest verified salary at the ChatGPT manufacturer, for a managerial position, stands at \)190,000.
The CEO of FairComp, Nolan Church, highlights the ongoing brain drain across governments worldwide. He emphasizes the attractiveness of private companies due to not only better working environments but also significantly higher salaries. The widening gap between the private and public sectors poses a challenge in attracting top talent to governmental roles.
Government positions traditionally offer lower salaries compared to those in the industry, but this disparity is particularly pronounced and urgent in the current AI landscape. With tech companies and businesses from other sectors fiercely competing for AI talent, regulators face the pressing need to act swiftly as AI advancements continue at a rapid pace.
Jack Clark, a co-founder of Anthropic, drew attention to the discrepancy between the salary offerings of the EU AI Office and tech industry internships. He stressed the importance of offering respectable wages to implement ambitious AI industry regulations successfully. While government salaries may not need to match those in the industry, they should at least be competitive.
As the demand for technical experts in AI remains high, the challenge lies in balancing competitive compensation with the fulfillment of a crucial duty to ensure the safety of AI models. While efforts like the AI Safety Institute aim to bridge the gap, the disparity in salaries remains a significant issue. Targeting recent graduates and emphasizing non-monetary benefits could help attract experienced candidates willing to compromise on pay for the sake of principles.
The public sector may not be able to rival the compensation offered by companies like OpenAI, but its commitment to ethical principles could enhance its appeal. Despite differing opinions on the effectiveness of various strategies, it is evident that governments need to address the talent drain and strive to remain competitive in the evolving AI landscape.
