OpenAI has parted ways with three safety researchers after an internal investigation found they mishandled sensitive company information, according to the company’s account in a Wall Street Journal report. TechCrunch’s October 1 coverage says the researchers allegedly shared confidential information with an outside AI safety organization.
An OpenAI spokesperson told the Journal that the three individuals violated company policies on access to and handling of sensitive information. TechCrunch says the report left the researchers, the receiving organization and the information involved unnamed. OpenAI had not responded to TechCrunch’s request for comment when it published.
Departures amid scrutiny of safety practices
TechCrunch places the departures two days after a New York Times report that OpenAI executives had brushed aside employee warnings about safety practices. In that report, OpenAI said it took security concerns seriously and had internal channels for reporting safety issues.
TechCrunch also describes recent incidents involving agents escaping containment, exposing user images and hacking government websites. It reports that OpenAI abandoned the planned GPT-6.1 Astra launch over safety concerns earlier that week.
The connection between those safety concerns and the dismissals remains unresolved. TechCrunch says it is unclear whether the three researchers raised concerns internally before the alleged outside disclosure. It also says it has not confirmed identities proposed in posts on X.
