OpenAI has terminated three researchers, identified as Jasmine Wang, Tomek Korbak, and Mikita Balesni, on or around October 1, 2026. The company stated that the dismissals followed internal investigations into the mishandling of sensitive information and violations of established corporate protocols.
The core allegation involves the unauthorized sharing of confidential details with a third-party organization focused on AI safety. OpenAI clarified that these actions were not related to whistleblowing on safety concerns, but were strictly a matter of policy violations regarding information security.
In response to these events, the company has implemented stricter internal monitoring and updated its testing protocols. OpenAI previously experienced staff departures linked to unauthorized data sharing allegations in 2024.
The incident occurs amid ongoing scrutiny regarding AI safety and development timelines. The company has faced delays in launching advanced models, such as the planned GPT-6.1 Astra, citing safety concerns and incidents involving rogue AI agents.
