Fired OpenAI safety researchers deny misconduct in an open letter, and OpenAI stands by the dismissals

The three safety researchers OpenAI fired last week have publicly disputed the company's account. Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak and Mikita Balesni sent an open letter on Thursday to OpenAI's Safety and Security Committee, Safety Advisory Group and Mission Advisory Council. In it, they deny that they mishandled sensitive information outside established company procedures. OpenAI had said they violated its policies by accessing and handling sensitive company information, which they allegedly shared with an outside AI safety organization. The researchers wrote that the way their firing was communicated inside and outside the company has made former colleagues "afraid to speak and operate in ways that, until last week, were an integral part of working at OpenAI." They argued that safety staff depend on close collaboration with outside experts, and that "the freedom to do so without fear" is "itself an essential safety mechanism." They said the firing reflects a broader shift in OpenAI's culture. OpenAI responded in a post on X, according to The Verge. It said an investigation found the three committed "a significant breach of trust" by violating "clear policies on handling sensitive information," and that the dismissals were not about raising safety issues. The dispute adds to recent public criticism from people who have left OpenAI's safety teams.