Inside the OpenAI Economic Research Team

Chatterji joined OpenAI in 2024 after overseeing the $52 billion CHIPS program in the White House and serving as chief economist at the Commerce Department. His transition from government policy to tech was unexpected; he initially consulted on semiconductor supply chains before the company formalized his current role to address the broader economics of artificial intelligence. Today, he leads a dozen specialists, including data scientists and former educators, to analyze how AI transforms individual workflows, business structures, and long-term economic stability.

Success in this environment demands more than academic rigor. Chatterji emphasizes that his team must operate at the speed of the company’s development cycle, where research datasets can become obsolete within weeks. Because there is no established playbook for predicting AI's trajectory, he seeks individuals capable of high-level self-direction who can define their own research mandates. Collaboration is equally critical, as the team frequently coordinates with external governments and universities to fill gaps in data that no single entity can bridge alone. For Chatterji, the shift from public policy to the private sector has turned him into the most popular person at any social gathering, as everyone from colleagues to parents on the soccer sidelines seeks his perspective on the future of work.