Fired OpenAI Researchers Warn of 'Culture of Fear'

Three safety researchers dismissed by OpenAI have published an open letter warning of a culture of fear at the company that discourages employees from raising concerns about artificial intelligence models, Dutch broadcaster NOS and news outlet Infobae reported. The three—Jasmine Wang, Mikita Balesni, and Tomek Korbak—asserted that their former colleagues now fear voicing professional concerns, and called for the appointment of an external regulator.

The company cited leaks of proprietary information to outside parties as the reason for their dismissal, an allegation the researchers firmly denied in their letter. In a response provided to The Wall Street Journal, an OpenAI spokesperson stressed that their termination was not related to safety criticisms they had raised, while expressing gratitude for their contributions to the company.