GoKawiilContractors training OpenAI's models fired for secretly using AI to do the work
404 Media reports that multiple contractors hired to improve OpenAI's models were terminated after being caught using AI tools to complete their training tasks, citing internal documents and interviews with contractors. One worker shared a termination letter citing concerns about the 'authenticity' of their work, while sources said such firings are common across a workforce of thousands. Two of the contractors worked through Mercor, a staffing firm reportedly in talks with Nvidia for a $20 billion valuation.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The firings highlight a tension in AI development: companies building tools meant to boost workplace productivity are policing their own contractors against using those same tools, suggesting concerns about data quality and authenticity in training pipelines. One contractor's account of deliberately submitting poor responses to 'sabotage' training also points to potential quality-control vulnerabilities in the human feedback loops that shape model behavior. OpenAI's refusal to comment leaves open questions about how widespread the practice and its enforcement really are.
- Contractors training OpenAI's models were fired for using AI tools during their work, according to internal documents and worker accounts.
- Sources describe the practice as common and say firings for it happen frequently across a large contractor workforce.
- Two affected contractors worked via Mercor, a firm reportedly in funding talks with Nvidia at a $20 billion valuation.
Source: slashdot.org — Posted, 2026-09-24
Published there as: “People Training OpenAI's AI Fired For Using AI To Train the AI”
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