OpenAI announced on September 9, 2026, that Paul Christiano will join the OpenAI Foundation Board as a non-voting observer. He will also serve on the Safety and Security Committee (SSC) of the Foundation Board, working alongside its chair, Zico Kolter.
Paul Christiano brings government experience from his role as a Senior Tech Advisor at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where he worked on evaluating frontier AI models and mitigating safety risks. His work at the U.S. AI Safety Institute and the Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) included assessing national security implications of AI capabilities.
"Paul has helped define the field of AI alignment through work that is rigorous and focused on the hardest questions posed by increasingly capable systems," said Bret Taylor, Chair of the OpenAI Foundation and OpenAI Group PBC Boards. His technical judgment will strengthen the Board’s oversight and the SSC’s work as OpenAI continues to develop and deploy frontier AI.
The announcement follows OpenAI’s recapitalization in October 2025, which included commitments from the California and Delaware Attorneys General. Their engagement helped strengthen the governance framework, and Paul’s appointment builds on that structure.
OpenAI did not specify the exact role Christiano will play beyond the Board and SSC, and it raised questions about the adequacy of industry safeguards. The Foundation controls OpenAI Group PBC, with the SSC a committee of the Foundation Board.
Source: openai
