EmergingHuman-AI interaction and experience research

AI Wellbeing and Companion Safety Lead

Also called AI Wellbeing / Companion Safety Lead · User Wellbeing Researcher

Protects users of consumer AI products from over-reliance, emotional harm and unhealthy attachment. Matters because trust, retention and regulatory exposure all depend on people being able to use the product without being hurt by it.

What they do

Studies how people actually use conversational and companion products, especially over long periods. Designs experiments and diary studies to spot dependence, distress and blurred boundaries. Works with product, policy and model teams to turn findings into design changes, such as pacing, prompts, limits and handoffs to human support. Defines what healthy use looks like for different groups, including vulnerable and young users. Reviews edge cases, writes guidance, and checks that safeguards are understandable and easy to control. Reports honestly on harms the product may be causing.

What a strong hire delivers

Within the first months, a strong hire gives the company a clear, shared definition of user wellbeing risk and a way to observe it. They run a first study on real usage, ship a small set of safeguards that product teams accept, and set up a regular review of difficult cases. Leadership gets a plain account of where harm is likely and what is being done.

How you can tell they are good

Look for someone who can explain a past study from question to design change, and what they would not conclude from the data. Ask how they separate healthy attachment from harmful dependence. Strong people are specific, careful with vulnerable users, and comfortable saying a feature should change. Be wary of vague talk about empathy or purely policy answers.

Why it is hard to fill

Hardly anyone holds this title yet. The work usually sits inside user research, trust and safety or product policy, so CVs rarely say it. The mix is unusual: research rigour, clinical or psychological insight, and the nerve to influence product. Consumer AI companies compete for the same few people, and candidates often want proof the company will act on findings.

Where to find them

Look in HCI and UX research teams at consumer apps, especially social, mental health, gaming and conversational products. Cognitive psychologists and service researchers move across well. Clinical psychologists with product exposure and trust and safety specialists who have handled self-harm or vulnerable user cases are also strong sources. Consumer AI companies and model providers with companion-style features are where it is emerging fastest.

Indicative pay

Not enough published evidence yet to give a fair range for this role, which is common for work this new. We benchmark it for you as part of a search.

Interview questions for an AI Wellbeing and Companion Safety Lead

  1. Tell us about a study where you found a user harm nobody expected. What changed as a result?

    A strong answer names the method, the surprise, and a concrete product change. It shows they persuaded others. Worry if the story ends at a report, or if the harm was only assumed from opinion.

  2. How would you tell healthy attachment to a companion product from unhealthy dependence?

    Good answers use behaviours and context, such as displaced relationships, distress when unavailable and loss of control, not just usage time. They admit uncertainty and vary by user group. Worry about one simple threshold.

4 more questions, with what a strong answer covers, are in the Role Kit.

Job description you can post

We build consumer AI products that people use often and personally. We are hiring a lead to understand how that use affects wellbeing and to make our products safer for the people who rely on them. You will work across research, product, policy and model teams.

What you will do

  • Research how people use our conversational products over time, including signs of over-reliance and emotional harm
  • Design experiments, diary studies and other methods to measure wellbeing risk
  • Define what healthy use looks like for different user groups
  • Work with product and model teams to turn findings into safeguards and design changes
  • Review difficult cases and set up regular reporting on user harm
  • Test that controls and safeguards are clear and accessible
  • Advise on research ethics for vulnerable participants

What you will bring

  • Shown experience running rigorous user research or experiments on sensitive topics
  • Examples of research that changed a product decision
  • Working knowledge of human-computer interaction or psychology
  • Ability to handle vulnerable user situations with care
  • Clear writing and the confidence to challenge product choices
  • Familiarity with accessible design practice

Nice to have

  • Clinical or counselling background
  • Trust and safety experience with self-harm or vulnerable users
  • Experience with conversational or companion products

Free to use and adapt. If it saves you time, a link back to this page is appreciated.

Skills that matter

  • Human-computer interactionWorkingDesign and study interactions between people and AI
  • User researchWorkingStudy user needs, context and behaviour
  • AccessibilityWorkingEnable equitable use by people with disabilities
  • Experimental designWorkingChoose comparisons that identify credible effects

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How we wrote this

Role definitions are our own editorial work, checked against occupational classifications, standards, research and employer pages. Titles vary by company, and this is a description of the work, not a job advert.

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