OpenAI publicly accuses three fired safety researchers of a 'significant breach of trust' after they claimed they were sacked for prioritising safety

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026 · last updated 10 October 2026.

OpenAI has hit back publicly at three dismissed safety researchers who alleged they were fired for putting safety above the company's commercial interests. Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak and Mikita Balesni published an open letter warning their sacking could frighten remaining staff into silence on AI risks. OpenAI insists a "thorough investigation" found the trio "violated clear policies on handling sensitive information" — not that they raised safety concerns.

Mikita Balesni said he was told on his exit call that OpenAI no longer trusted him for "speaking too much to third-party safety organisations."

The researchers warned their firing could cut off independent auditors from access to OpenAI's most advanced models.

OpenAI refused to specify what the "breach of trust" involved, saying only that it goes "beyond what's outlined in the letter they published."