OpenAI Senior Policy Advisor Departs, Citing Independence Concerns
Miles Brundage, a senior policy advisor at OpenAI, has announced his departure from the artificial intelligence research company after six years of service. Brundage, who led the AGI Readiness team, cited a desire for greater independence and freedom to publish as primary reasons for his exit.
The departure marks another significant change in OpenAI’s leadership structure, as the company confirms that the AGI Readiness team will be disbanded, with its members reassigned to other roles within the organization.
Brundage’s exit is part of a broader trend of high-profile safety researchers leaving OpenAI in recent months. In May, the company dissolved its Superalignment Team following the departures of leaders Jan Leike and Ilya Sutskever. Other notable exits include Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew, and VP of Research Barret Zoph.
During his tenure, Brundage played a crucial role in advising OpenAI executives on preparations for advanced artificial intelligence. His contributions to safety research included the implementation of external red teaming, a practice aimed at identifying potential vulnerabilities in AI systems.
In his departure statement, Brundage expressed concerns about restrictions on publishing research and a perceived lack of impartiality in AI policy discussions within the company. He also alluded to corporate culture at OpenAI where voicing concerns could be challenging and potentially costly for employees.
OpenAI has not provided an official comment regarding Brundage’s departure. The company continues to navigate significant changes in its leadership and research teams as it pursues its mission in artificial intelligence development.
As the AI industry watches these developments closely, questions arise about the potential impact on OpenAI’s research direction and policy stance in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.