Fired security researchers accuse OpenAI of 'chilling' safety efforts

Three former OpenAI security researchers have accused the company of firing them for warning about the dangers of artificial intelligence. According to the Economic Times Tech, this has reignited the debate over safety at a company whose software has been involved in security breaches. The researchers, Mikita Balesni, Tomek Korbak, and Jasmine Wang, claim they were fired for prioritizing safety over the near-term interests of OpenAI, as stated by Balesni on X.

OpenAI, on the other hand, said it fired the researchers for allegedly violating company rules by mishandling sensitive information outside established procedures, as reported by Free Malaysia Today and Business Insider. The company stated that an internal investigation confirmed the researchers mishandled sensitive information. The fired employees have expressed concern that their firings may be used to justify ending OpenAI's work with independent auditors.

The researchers have released a letter to OpenAI, stating that their firing will have a "chilling" impact on the company's open culture, according to Business Insider and Free Malaysia Today. They also called on the company to keep its promise to permanently host independent auditors, expressing worry that their firings may be used to justify ending that work.

Brief written by urgent.news from Economic Times Tech, Free Malaysia Today, Techmeme, Business Insider — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.