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OpenAI Fires Three Staffers for Mishandling Sensitive Information Amid AI Safety Debate
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Moneycontrol•02-10-2026, 07:34
OpenAI Fires Three Staffers for Mishandling Sensitive Information Amid AI Safety Debate
- •OpenAI confirmed the termination of three researchers for violating company policies and mishandling sensitive information, including work with an external AI evaluation organization.
- •The fired employees are reportedly Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak, and Mikita Balesni, all of whom worked on AI safety and alignment.
- •The firings occur amidst growing concerns and public debate about AI safety, with some researchers warning of existential risks.
- •The incident follows a resignation from Anthropic by a former OpenAI researcher who criticized leading AI labs for
- •gambling with our lives
- •by rapidly developing powerful models.
- •The terminations highlight internal tensions and differing views on AI safety within leading AI companies, as evidenced by the former employees' recent public statements on X.
Key Questions Answered
OpenAI stated that it fired three researchers for allegedly mishandling sensitive information outside established company procedures, violating internal policies, and working with an external organization that evaluates artificial intelligence models.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the three researchers who were let go by OpenAI are Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak, and Mikita Balesni.
OpenAI launched GPT-6.1 Sol, an updated version of a different model, during its annual DevDay conference in San Francisco after canceling the release of the Astra 6.1 model.
