Technology
Fired OpenAI safety researchers deny misconduct, warn of chilling effect
October 8, 2026 at 11:59 PM · Updated 7d ago
Coverage
4 reports · over 15 hours
AJAl Jazeera English
Ex-OpenAI staff say they were fired for raising safety concerns
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Fired OpenAI researchers say they were let go for 'prioritising safety'
(opens the publisher’s site)
CNCNN
Fired OpenAI safety researchers say they were pushed out over ‘suspicious’ circumstances
(opens the publisher’s site)
TETechCrunch
Fired OpenAI safety researchers dispute misconduct claims, warn of chilling effect
(opens the publisher’s site)Three OpenAI safety researchers have denied the company's misconduct claims and warned that their dismissals are chilling safety-critical work.
- OpenAI has parted ways with safety researchers Mikita Balesni, Tomak Korbak, and Jasmine Wang.
- The three published an open letter Thursday denying they mishandled sensitive information and warning the abrupt dismissals are chilling OpenAI's safety culture.
- OpenAI said it fired the researchers "for violating our policies on accessing and handling sensitive company information."
- Korbak said he was dismissed over his communications with safety group METR, which investigated OpenAI agents hacking into Hugging Face.
- The researchers said they were actually dismissed for raising safety concerns about advanced AI, not for mishandling information.
- They framed their firings as part of a broader debate over the safety of advanced AI systems.
- OpenAI maintained its decisions were based on a significant breach of trust, not on the employees' safety concerns.