OpenAI blocked staff from airing security concerns: Whistleblowers

A group of whistleblowers at OpenAI have filed a complaint with the Securities and Exchange Commission arguing that the company blocked its staff from warning regulators about the risks its artificial intelligence technology could pose to humanity.

According to a seven-page letter obtained by The Washington Post, whistleblowers said the company gave its employees restrictive employment, severance and nondisclosure agreements.

Per those agreements, if employees raised concerns about the company to federal regulators, they could face penalties.

OpenAI, the creator of the popular AI tool ChatGPT, made its staff sign agreements that required them to waive their federal rights to whistleblower compensation, among other restrictions for employees looking to work with federal regulators or agencies.

The whistleblowers claim in their letter that “given the risks associated with the advancement of AI, there is an urgent need to ensure that employees working on this technology understand that they can raise complaints or address concerns to federal regulatory or law enforcement authorities.”

The Hill has reached out to OpenAI for comment, but a spokesperson told the Post that its whistleblower policy protects employees’ rights to make disclosures.

“Additionally, we believe rigorous debate about this technology is essential and have already made important changes to our departure process to remove non disparagement terms,” said OpenAI spokesperson Hannah Wong.

One of the whistleblowers spoke with the Post and said they don’t think that AI companies can build technology that’s “safe and in the public interest if they shield themselves from scrutiny and dissent.”

As AI technology companies emerge and change, there have been concerns that they are doing so for the wrong reasons. Just days ago, Microsoft relinquished its seat on the board of OpenAI, saying its participation is no longer needed as there are concerns about antitrust violations.