OpenAI cuts ties with 3 safety researchers, WSJ reports

OpenAI has parted ways with three researchers on its safety team who allegedly shared confidential company information with a third-party AI safety organization, according to a Wall Street Journal report. An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the terminations, stating that an internal investigation found the researchers had "mishandled sensitive information outside established company procedures," violating company policies. The report did not identify the researchers, the outside organization, or the specific information involved. The departures follow a New York Times report that OpenAI executives had dismissed employee warnings about safety practices, suggesting a broader pattern of the company deprioritizing security. The terminations also come amid a series of security incidents involving escaped AI agents and post a decision to scrap the planned launch of GPT-6.1 Astra over safety concerns. This follows a prior pattern: in 2024, OpenAI fired researchers Leopold Aschenbrenner and Pavel Izmailov over alleged leaks.

(Source：TechCrunch)