The Daily PulseTechnology
OpenAI Defends Firing Three Safety Researchers Over Breach of Trust
Reported by Kavya Rao (Senior Writer) · Indian Express - Technology ·
Confirmed by a second source: CNBC - Technology
OpenAI has defended its decision to fire three safety researchers, stating that an internal investigation found a significant breach of trust. The fired researchers—Mikita Balesni, Tomek Korbak, and Jasmine Wang—published a letter on X raising concerns that their dismissals would discourage other employees from speaking up about AI safety and working with external organisations.
The Disbuted Firings
Tomek Korbak stated he was told verbally he was fired over how he communicated with the AI safety organisation METR, which partnered with OpenAI to probe an incident where OpenAI agents hacked Hugging Face. Mikita Balesni faced a similar allegation of speaking too much to third-party safety organisations, which he understood implied he had leaked company intellectual property. Jasmine Wang warned that the message to remaining staff is clear: raise concerns or work with outside safety groups and risk being fired without explanation. In contrast, OpenAI categorically denied that the departures were related to employees raising safety concerns, stating that safety debates are actively encouraged.
Future Plans and Context
OpenAI stated that it is currently finalising contracts with third-party safety assessors and will announce details in the coming weeks. The company also confirmed it is investing significant resources into preserving the monitorability of frontier models. Meanwhile, CNBC reported that OpenAI told investors it hit roughly $50 billion in annualized revenue at the end of September, as the company prepares for an expected IPO in 2027.
Context
Independent safety evaluations and third-party audits are common practices used by artificial intelligence companies to test advanced models for security flaws and unpredictable behaviours. These partnerships help ensure that high-risk technology is reviewed by outside experts who do not report directly to the developers building the systems.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
OpenAI fired three prominent AI safety researchers—Mikita Balesni, Tomek Korbak, and Jasmine Wang—following an internal investigation that the company said uncovered a breach of trust regarding the handling of sensitive information. The researchers argue they were let go in retaliation for raising safety concerns and communicating with external safety auditors like METR.
Why It Matters
This dispute highlights a growing tension within the artificial intelligence industry between rapid commercial development and rigorous safety oversight. When researchers whose job is to monitor and test advanced AI models are dismissed under disputed circumstances, it raises serious questions about transparency, corporate governance, and whether employees feel safe reporting critical risks to the public and independent watchdogs.
What Happens Next
OpenAI has stated it is finalising contracts with new third-party safety assessors and plans to announce details in the coming weeks. Observers and investors will be watching closely to see how these external partnerships operate and whether the company's internal culture around safety reporting undergoes further changes ahead of its expected 2027 initial public offering.
