OpenAI parts ways with three safety researchers over alleged confidential information sharing

The company said an internal investigation found the researchers mishandled sensitive information outside established procedures.

OpenAI has parted ways with three safety researchers after an internal investigation found they allegedly shared confidential company information with an outside AI safety organization.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the departures Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. OpenAI confirmed that three researchers had left the company but has not publicly identified them or disclosed what information was shared.

“Our investigation confirmed that these individuals mishandled sensitive information outside established company procedures, violating our policies and breaking the trust essential to our work,” an OpenAI spokesperson told CBS News.

The company said its investigation uncovered a broader pattern of misconduct involving employees with access to confidential research. OpenAI argued that its safety teams require significant access to sensitive internal information, making strict handling procedures particularly important.

Neither OpenAI nor the reports identified the outside AI safety organization that allegedly received the information.

The departures come during a period of heightened scrutiny around OpenAI’s safety operations. The company recently delayed the release of GPT-6.1 Astra after internal testing raised security concerns, while regulators have increased scrutiny of incidents involving autonomous AI agents.

OpenAI has also previously faced high-profile departures from its safety and alignment teams. Co-founder Ilya Sutskever and researcher Jan Leike left the company in 2024, after which OpenAI dissolved the superalignment team they had led.

The latest case differs from those earlier departures because OpenAI says the three researchers violated internal information-handling policies rather than leaving over disagreements about the company’s approach to safety.

No public evidence currently links the researchers’ departures to recent AI safety incidents or regulatory investigations involving OpenAI.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Diego Almada Lopez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.