OpenAI fires 3 safety researchers in dispute over AI risks

OpenAI has fired three safety researchers, Tomek Korbak, Jasmine Wang, and Mikita Balesni, for a "breach of trust." According to OpenAI, the researchers violated clear policies on handling sensitive information. The firings were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The researchers had accused OpenAI of putting its corporate interests before safety, prompting their dismissal. In a letter to OpenAI's safety oversight groups, they expressed concerns that internal and external communications about their firings have created a culture of fear, discouraging employees from speaking freely about safety concerns. They urged OpenAI to allow third-party safety monitors inside the company and preserve the ability to monitor rapidly advancing frontier AI models.

The incident highlights turmoil inside leading AI companies over the safety of the technology. OpenAI defended its decision, stating that the researchers mishandled sensitive information outside established company procedures. The firings have sparked a debate on social media and within OpenAI about the company's priorities and safety protocols.

Brief written by urgent.news from Japan Today, Fast Company, Global News, Fortune, CBS News — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.