OpenAI safety chief Tomek Korbak says he’s no longer trusted.
ai-safety openai
| Source: HN | Original article
OpenAI's head of safety told employee Tomek Korbak they no longer trust him, prompting a security guard to escort him out of the building.
OpenAI has abruptly dismissed three members of its safety team, including senior researcher Tomek Korbak, after a meeting in which the head of safety told them the company no longer trusted them. According to Korbak’s post on X, a security guard collected his badge and escorted him out of the headquarters, and he later learned that colleagues Jasmine Wang and Mikita Balesni were also terminated.
OpenAI’s official response, issued on 9 October 2026, says the three were let go for violating “clear policies” on handling sensitive information, and rejects claims that the firings were retaliation for internal safety concerns. The company did not disclose the specific policy breaches.
The episode deepens a growing safety controversy at the AI lab. Just weeks earlier, OpenAI announced the same three dismissals, sparking debate over whether the firm is sidelining internal safety voices. The incident follows a series of high‑profile safety setbacks, including the firing of three OpenAI safety researchers reported on 9 October 2026, and broader industry concerns about the transparency of safety testing in AI development.
What to watch next: whether OpenAI will launch an internal audit or external review of its safety protocols, and how regulators and partners may respond to perceived erosion of safety oversight. The departure of senior safety staff could also affect OpenAI’s roadmap for responsible model releases, a topic already under scrutiny after recent analyses showing limited safety reporting from major AI labs. Further statements from the dismissed researchers or from OpenAI’s leadership will likely shape the narrative in the coming weeks.
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