{
  "id": 11344123,
  "title": "OpenAI fires 3 researchers as AI safety concerns intensify across tech industry",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/openai-fires-3-researchers-as-ai-safety-concerns-intensify-across",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-02T03:00:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Times of India",
    "slug": "times-of-india",
    "url": "https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/openai-fires-3-researchers-as-ai-safety-concerns-intensify-across-the-tech-industry/articleshow/134630618.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Three researchers at OpenAI have been fired following an internal investigation into alleged mishandling of sensitive information and breaches of company policy. The identities of the researchers, Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak, and Mikita Balesni, were not publicly disclosed by OpenAI. The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg reported that two of the researchers worked on AI safety and alignment, which involves ensuring that advanced AI systems behave safely and follow human instructions. OpenAI stated that the investigation confirmed the researchers had violated policies and broken trust, but did not specify the details of the mishandled information. The dismissals come amid growing concerns about AI safety across the tech industry. Recently, several high-profile researchers have resigned from major AI companies, expressing worries about the risks of developing increasingly powerful AI systems. The firings coincide with President Trump's announcement of a voluntary safety pledge from major US tech companies, including Nvidia, Google, Meta, xAI, OpenAI, and Anthropic. The pledge aims to ensure adequate safeguards are developed as AI technology advances.",
  "summary": "The San Francisco-based artificial intelligence company did not publicly identify the researchers, but the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg reported that they were Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak and Mikita Balesni. At least two of them worked on AI safety and alignment, areas focused on making advanced AI systems behave safely and follow human instructions. \"We have parted ways with three…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "SiliconANGLE",
        "title": "OpenAI dismisses three safety researchers accused of sharing confidential material",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/openai-dismisses-three-safety-researchers-accused-of-sharing",
        "published": "2026-10-01T22:31:38.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times",
        "title": "OpenAI fires 3 researchers amid AI safety debate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/openai-fires-3-researchers-amid-ai-safety-debate",
        "published": "2026-10-02T01:10:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "OpenAI Fires Three Safety Researchers Over Alleged Leak Of Confidential Data To Outside AI-Safety Group",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/openai-fires-three-safety-researchers-over-alleged-leak-of",
        "published": "2026-10-02T03:08:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}