OpenAI defends firing AI safety researchers over alleged “breach of trust”

Updated on: October 9, 2026 / 12:47 PM EDT / CBS News

OpenAI has responded to a letter that three of its fired researchers posted on social media Thursday, defending its decision to terminate their employment for violating company protocol around handling sensitive information.

"Last week we parted ways with Jasmine, Mikita, and Tomek after a thorough investigation found they violated clear policies on handling sensitive information," the company wrote on social media platform X Friday morning, after the researchers publicly shared a letter they had sent to OpenAI's leadership.

The researchers — Mikita Balesni, Jasmine Wang, and Tomek Korbak — were fired for "prioritizing safety over the near-term interest of OpenAI as a corporation," Balesni claimed in a social media post featuring their letter.

The public back-and-forth between the AI safety researchers and their former employer comes as leading AI labs, including OpenAI, have recently warned about the dangers of speeding ahead in the development of the powerful technology. AI companies face a balancing act between promoting the technology's capabilities and addressing growing warnings from experts about its risks to society.

Almost two-thirds of Americans say they believe AI is developing too quickly, according to a new poll from…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/