OpenAI has dissolved its preparedness team, which was tasked with assessing and mitigating risks posed by its AI models.
Key facts
- •The preparedness team was disbanded at the end of last month.
- •Responsibilities for risk assessment have been moved into existing teams focused on bio and cyber areas.
- •Former safety and ethics leaders, including Chloé Bakalar and Johannes Heidecke, have recently left the company.
- •Jan Leike, who resigned in 2024, criticized the company for prioritizing product development over safety.
- •Dylan Scandinaro will now lead research into recursive self-improving AI.
OpenAI has disbanded its preparedness team, a group previously responsible for assessing potential risks in its AI models and developing mitigation strategies. According to the Financial Times, the responsibilities of the team have been redistributed into existing departments, specifically focusing on areas such as cyber and biological threats.
Organizational Changes at OpenAI
The dissolution of the preparedness team follows a series of departures at the company, including ethics lead Chloé Bakalar, Chief Futurist Josh Achiam, and head of safety Johannes Heidecke. These changes occur as the company reportedly prepares for an initial public offering. Previously, OpenAI also dissolved its AGI readiness and superalignment teams.
Leadership Reassignment
Dylan Scandinaro, who previously led the preparedness team after joining from Anthropic in February, will transition to a new role. He is set to focus on the implications of recursive self-improving artificial intelligence.
Timeline
- FebruaryDylan Scandinaro was poached from Anthropic to lead the preparedness team.
- 2024Jan Leike resigned from OpenAI.
- End of last monthOpenAI disbanded its preparedness team.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Verge.
