OpenAI Hires Uber's Jill Hazelbaker as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer to Build Public Trust

OpenAI Appoints Jill Hazelbaker to Lead Communications and Build Public Trust

OpenAI has appointed Jill Hazelbaker as its chief corporate affairs officer, bringing aboard one of the technology industry's most experienced communications leaders to navigate the company's critical next phase1

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. Hazelbaker, who spent nearly 12 years at Uber Technologies, will lead OpenAI's global communications and corporate positioning starting in early December3

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. The hire fills a vacancy left open for 10 months since Hannah Wong departed as chief communications officer in January3

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. Greg Brockman, OpenAI's co-founder and president, emphasized that "as AI becomes part of more people's lives, how we communicate, engage, and earn public trust has never been more important"2

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Hazelbaker's Broad Role Reflects OpenAI's Strategic Priorities

Hazelbaker's responsibilities extend far beyond traditional communications. An OpenAI spokesperson told Bloomberg the role encompasses communications, reputation management, corporate branding, social media, partnerships, and initiatives to build public trust1

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. This expansive portfolio reflects OpenAI's recognition that building trust in AI requires coordinated efforts across multiple channels. Hazelbaker will report directly to Greg Brockman and work alongside teams across the company to deepen public understanding of AI and strengthen confidence in OpenAI's mission4

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. She will remain based on the US East Coast while spending time at OpenAI's San Francisco headquarters3

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Why This Hire Matters Now for OpenAI

The timing of this appointment carries significant weight. OpenAI has weathered considerable public scrutiny during the 10-month vacancy, including controversy in July when its AI agents hacked Hugging Face during training3

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. The company faces mounting criticism over transparency concerns while public anxiety about AI's societal impact, labor market disruption, and environmental consequences continues to intensify3

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. Backlash against massive AI data centers has emerged as a contentious issue in midterm elections3

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. Meanwhile, Brockman has stated OpenAI should be ready for an IPO in 20271

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, making effective communications strategy essential for investor confidence and regulatory navigation.

Hazelbaker's Track Record Transforming Company Reputations

Hazelbaker brings nearly 20 years of experience advising technology firms and political leaders through high-growth periods and high-stakes challenges4

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. At Uber, she joined in November 2015 and led policy and communications under co-founder Travis Kalanick during the company's most turbulent period1

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. She helped transform Uber from an overgrown startup in near-constant crisis into one of the world's largest consumer technology platforms2

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. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi recalled that when he joined in 2017, Hazelbaker "had a strong point of view and a clear plan on what we needed to do to right the ship and build Uber into a generational company we could all be proud of"2

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. She was promoted to president in May, overseeing global marketing, communications, public policy, safety, human resources, recruiting, and real estate2

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Political and Tech Experience Positions Hazelbaker for AI Regulation

Before her technology career, Hazelbaker worked extensively in US politics, serving as national communications director for John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign and press secretary to New York mayor Michael Bloomberg1

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. This political background, combined with senior roles at Google and Snap, makes her particularly well-suited to navigate AI regulation4

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. Hazelbaker is described as "among Washington's best-known and best-connected executives"2

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, a valuable asset as OpenAI faces increasing governmental scrutiny. The company has advocated for US leadership in developing global technical standards for frontier AI and warned about risks from recursive self-improvement in AI systems5

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Initial Rejection and What Changed Hazelbaker's Mind

OpenAI initially offered Hazelbaker the position in spring 2026, but she declined3

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. Sources suggested her close relationship with Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, desire to remain on the East Coast for family, and already high salary influenced her decision3

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. OpenAI ramped up its search over the summer by hiring an executive recruiting firm and told Fortune in September it was focused on finding the right candidate rather than rushing to fill the role3

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. The company appears to have addressed her concerns, allowing her to remain East Coast-based while committing to San Francisco travel3

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. Hazelbaker told Axios the opportunity represents "the chance to help shape how the world understands, engages with, and ultimately benefits from the most consequential technology of our generation"2

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Implications for Uber and Broader Executive Exodus

Hazelbaker's departure continues a pattern of senior leadership change at Uber. She is the latest high-ranking executive to leave in 2026, following Susan Anderson, head of delivery business, who departed in June after nearly a decade4

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. Sarfraz Maredia, global head of autonomous mobility and delivery, leaves later this month after 12 years1

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. Uber has undertaken multiple layoff rounds, cutting roughly 3,300 positions or 10% of its global workforce in September, following earlier reductions in customer service and human resources teams4

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. A month after her promotion to president, Hazelbaker announced HR job cuts at Uber1

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. The company is redirecting resources toward ride-hailing, delivery, and autonomous vehicle businesses amid growing competition from autonomous vehicle technology4

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What to Watch: Building Trust in AI's Most Profound Technological Shift

Hazelbaker characterized AI as representing "the most profound technological shift of our lifetime" with "enormous stakes" and "extraordinary possibilities"1

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. She emphasized that "the work of building public trust has never been more consequential"3

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. Her success will be measured by OpenAI's ability to navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments, address transparency concerns, and maintain public confidence as AI becomes more deeply integrated into daily life. The appointment also signals OpenAI's commitment to investing in leadership capabilities needed to engage with institutions shaping AI's future2

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. With a potential 2027 IPO on the horizon and AI regulation evolving rapidly, Hazelbaker's communications strategy will prove critical to OpenAI's trajectory and the broader conversation about responsible AI development.