OpenAI has fired three AI safety researchers who warn that their departures could discourage employees from speaking up about the risks of advanced AI. The company denies the dismissals were retaliation, saying an internal investigation found violations of its policies on handling sensitive information.
In an open letter to OpenAI's safety oversight groups on 8 October, former employees Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak and Mikita Balesni warned that the firings could have a 'chilling' effect on staff, making them afraid to raise concerns or work with independent safety experts. They argued that such an environment could weaken efforts to identify and address potential risks posed by advanced AI systems.
