Regulators Need AI Expertise. They Can’t Afford It
Mar 15, 2024
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Regulators are struggling to hire AI experts due to low salaries compared to industry. The UK's AI Safety Institute aims to bridge the gap by offering unique benefits to attract top talent.
Regulators struggle to attract AI experts due to low salaries compared to industry standards.
Government AI organizations explore non-monetary incentives to bridge talent gap and retain top AI experts.
Deep dives
Challenges in Hiring AI Regulators
Regulators worldwide are struggling to attract AI experts due to low salaries compared to tech industry standards. Job listings by European AI offices and the UK government offer significantly lower salaries, causing concerns of a brain drain to private companies. While the government's mission is critical in regulating AI, the disparity in compensation poses a challenge in recruiting top talent. The urgency to bridge this gap is highlighted as tech companies aggressively pursue AI-savvy individuals.
Solutions for Government AI Organizations
To address the talent gap, government AI organizations are exploring strategies such as relaxing qualification requirements and offering unique non-monetary benefits. Initiatives like the AI Safety Institute aim to balance competitive compensation with the public sector's limitations. By appealing to candidates' principles and providing valuable non-financial incentives, government entities hope to retain and attract top AI talent despite industry competition.
The European AI Office and the UK government are trying to hire experts to study and regulate the AI boom—but are offering salaries far short of industry compensation. Thanks for listening to WIRED. Talk to you next time for more stories from WIRED.com and read this story here.