GoKawiilOpenAI reaffirms firing of three safety researchers over information breach
OpenAI said on X that it is standing by its dismissal of researchers Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak and Mikita Balesni, citing violations of policies on handling sensitive information. The statement responded to an open letter the trio published a day earlier, in which they said they believed they were fired for raising AI safety concerns. OpenAI said an internal investigation found breaches beyond those described in the researchers' letter, without giving specifics.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The dispute highlights ongoing tension inside OpenAI between enforcing confidentiality and allowing employees to voice safety concerns, a friction point that has recurred since earlier high-profile departures from its safety teams. OpenAI's refusal to detail the alleged breaches could fuel further criticism that the company is not being transparent, as the researchers themselves urged in their letter. How this is received may shape perceptions of whether OpenAI tolerates internal dissent on safety issues.
- OpenAI says the firings were due to policy violations, not safety advocacy
- The three researchers claim they were dismissed for raising AI safety concerns
- OpenAI has not disclosed specifics of the alleged breaches of trust
Source: theverge.com — Robert Hart, 2026-10-09
Published there as: “OpenAI doubles down on decision to fire three AI safety researchers”
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