Help wanted: AI firms court ex-spies as Nvidia drama spotlights security risks
NVDA•AI and technology firms are hiring former intelligence personnel to counter espionage, with salaries for many counterintelligence roles ranging from $200,000 to about $500,000. OpenAI, Anthropic and Nvidia have posted roles, while top corporate security chiefs can earn $1 million to $4 million a year, depending on stock awards.
1. Rising demand for expertise
Chip, AI and technology firms are increasing security hiring as demand for artificial intelligence grows. Revelio Labs said counterintelligence hiring is a new phenomenon at frontier AI companies, with more explicit roles posted in recent years by OpenAI, Anthropic and Nvidia. Most salaries ranged from $200,000 to around $500,000.
2. AI firms add security staff
OpenAI appointed former National Security Agency director Paul Nakasone to its board and safety and security committee in June 2024, and is hiring a senior global security investigator. Anthropic added former CIA deputy director David Cohen and former NSA cybersecurity director Dave Luber to its national security advisory council, and is seeking a threat-intelligence security engineer. Recruiter Kathy Lavinder said top corporate security chiefs can earn $1 million to $4 million a year, depending on stock awards.
3. ASML expands defenses
ASML has established an Intelligence Fusion Centre and is advertising for an intelligence officer in Taiwan. The role covers insider threats including espionage, sabotage and terrorism, and requires at least 10 years of counterintelligence experience. The hiring push follows reports of two extramarital affairs involving Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, one with an alleged Chinese spy; Nvidia said it did not believe national security or company secrets were compromised, and China rejected the espionage allegations.
