OpenAI Defends Firing Three AI Safety Researchers Amid Dispute
OpenAI says three fired safety researchers breached trust, while the researchers call their dismissals suspicious.
What happened
OpenAI fired three researchers who worked on AI safety or alignment: Mikita Balesni, Tomek Korbak and Jasmine Wang.123
The researchers say they were pushed out under suspicious circumstances and are questioning the reasons given for their dismissal.1
OpenAI says an internal investigation found the three committed 'a significant breach of trust' and violated clear policies on handling sensitive information.23
OpenAI has denied that the firings were related to AI safety warnings.3
Key points
- OpenAI fired three safety/alignment researchers: Mikita Balesni, Tomek Korbak and Jasmine Wang.123
- OpenAI says an internal investigation found the researchers committed 'a significant breach of trust'.23
- The dismissals and their circumstances have become a public dispute, with the researchers and OpenAI giving different accounts.123
Where accounts differ
Each account is attributed to who makes it. We do not judge between them.
Reason for the dismissals
Mikita Balesni, Tomek Korbak and Jasmine Wang
The three researchers say they were fired under suspicious circumstances and question the stated reasons.1
What the coverage leaves out
- None of the outlets reviewed detailed the specific sensitive information allegedly mishandled by the researchers.
- None of the outlets reviewed included direct, detailed statements from Balesni, Korbak or Wang beyond their general questioning of the dismissals.
- None of the outlets reviewed explained what evidence, if any, links the firings to AI safety concerns, which OpenAI disputes.
Sources (3)
Every outlet we drew on, grouped by where it is based. Read the originals for the full reporting.
North America
- 2The VergeUSPrivate
OpenAI doubles down on decision to fire three AI safety researchers
Africa
- 1Egypt IndependentEGPrivate
Fired OpenAI safety researchers say they were pushed out over ‘suspicious’ circumstances
South Asia
- 3NDTVINPrivate