{
  "id": 13082063,
  "title": "Fired OpenAI researchers say they were let go for 'prioritising safety'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/fired-openai-researchers-say-they-were-let-go-for-prioritising-safety",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-09T09:30:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC World",
    "slug": "bbc-world",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvlydn8d3lkjo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Three former OpenAI researchers, Mikita Balesni, Tomek Korbak, and Jasmine Wang, have claimed they were fired for prioritizing safety concerns over corporate interests. According to an open letter they co-authored, they were let go after raising alarms about the company's ability to monitor AI agents, which they believed was essential for preventing mishaps. Despite OpenAI's investigation confirming that the individuals mishandled sensitive data, the research leaders defended their decision, stating that it was not related to raising safety concerns or speaking out. The dismissals have sparked a wider discussion about AI safety and the potential hazards advanced AI systems might pose to society. The trio asserts that their firings have left their colleagues at the tech company hesitant to voice their own safety worries.",
  "summary": "The AI firm instead claims the researchers were fired for mishandling sensitive information.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Technology",
        "title": "Fired OpenAI researchers say they were let go for 'prioritising safety'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/fired-openai-researchers-say-they-were-let-go-for-prioritising-safety-13082990",
        "published": "2026-10-09T09:30:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}