Fired OpenAI safety researchers dispute misconduct claims, warn of chilling effect

Three fired OpenAI safety researchers are pushing back on the company's misconduct claims, according to TechCrunch. Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak, and Mikita Balesni published an open letter denying they mishandled sensitive information. OpenAI says they violated policy by accessing and handling sensitive company data. The researchers deny leaking details about model architectures to The Information. They warn their abrupt firing is creating a chilling effect on safety culture. Employees, they say, now fear speaking up or working with outside experts. OpenAI shared an internal memo denying retaliation, saying terminations weren't about raising concerns. A spokesperson cited a broader "pattern of misconduct." Wang says she was fired over an email access issue tied to recruiting duties. She called the company's reasoning inconsistent. The researchers are urging OpenAI to protect third-party safety collaboration going forward. Full article link in bio.