OpenAI parts ways with three safety researchers over information mishandling
Safety-team departures stacking on top of safety controversies make OpenAI's internal governance worth watching.
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OpenAI has confirmed it parted ways with three members of its safety team for mishandling sensitive company information, in a story first reported by The Wall Street Journal and relayed by TechCrunch quoting a company spokesperson.
A company spokesperson said an internal investigation confirmed the three took sensitive information outside established procedures; the report did not name the researchers, the outside safety organization, or the information involved. Names circulating on X remain unconfirmed.
The departures came two days after The New York Times reported executives brushing aside safety warnings, and days after OpenAI scrapped the GPT-6.1 Astra launch over safety concerns. In 2024, the company fired two researchers over alleged leaks as well.