At an ex-OpenAI researcher's influential lab, $500,000 salaries aren't enough to fix a talent 'bottleneck'

METR's CEO, Beth Barnes, and president, Chris Painter. METR METR, a Berkeley lab started by an ex-OpenAI researcher, has grown into a prominent AI umpire. The nonprofit works with OpenAI, Anthropic, and governments to evaluate cutting-edge models. METR says that an AI talent shortage hinders growth in safety and security research. Beth Barnes, one of the AI industry's most influential watchdogs, has a lot to worry about. The ex-OpenAI researcher has shown that AI's capabilities are escalating…