AI has a PR problem.
Big Tech’s talent war has moved beyond the quest for top AI researchers, who have attracted lucrative job offers of more than $100 million from tech firms. While the salaries firms offer comms experts are markedly lower than what they’re willing to pay AI specialists, the listings offer salaries significantly higher than the U.S. average of $107,000 for a communications director, according to Indeed. The hefty pay packages signal a hunger among tech firms to take the reins of their company’s narrative as public opinion on AI sours.
The ability of a company to tell its own story has become a top priority for firms across the U.S., as originally reported by The Wall Street Journal, with tech giants, AI startups, and financial services companies all hunting for talent to best narrate a company’s path. “As storytellers, we play an integral role in driving customer acquisition and long-term growth,” Google wrote in a job posting last year. Adobe’s AI evangelist is meant to lead the company’s “artificial intelligence storytelling across the Americas region,” according to the job posting. OpenAI communications lead postings also call for individuals with storytelling expertise.
Adobe and OpenAI didn’t immediately respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
