Key facts
- David Robinson, a leader on OpenAI's Safety Systems team, quit the company.
- Robinson published an essay in The Atlantic expressing concerns about OpenAI's safety approach.
- He stated that companies building AI technology "aren't being nearly careful enough."
- Robinson believes OpenAI is "failing to achieve the level of care that I believe is needed."
- He previously lectured tech executives on ethics and joined OpenAI in 2023.
David Robinson, who led safety transparency at OpenAI, has quit the company and spoken out about its approach to artificial intelligence safety. In an essay published in The Atlantic, Robinson stated that companies developing AI are "not being nearly careful enough" and that OpenAI, in particular, is "failing to achieve the level of care that I believe is needed" as it prioritizes rapid model development.
Robinson, a Rhodes Scholar with a degree in philosophy from Princeton, has a long-standing interest in the social impacts of technology. He joined OpenAI in 2023, initially as head of policy planning, and expressed enthusiasm for shaping the company's engagement in the AI policy debate. Previously, he co-founded Upturn, an organization focused on using algorithmic technologies to improve government data accessibility, and lectured tech executives on ethics.
His departure follows that of other safety researchers from OpenAI and a similar warning from a former Anthropic engineer about AI risks. Robinson argued that by speaking out from the outside, he can better help people understand the risks and strengthen incentives for companies to prioritize safety. In response to Robinson's essay, an OpenAI spokesperson said the company is continuously strengthening its safety and security practices to address current risks and anticipate future advances, pausing training or holding back models when necessary to ensure they are not developed beyond safe management capabilities.