OpenAI is undergoing its latest significant restructuring of safety teams as the company advances toward an anticipated initial public offering.
According to The Financial Times, OpenAI disbanded its preparedness team at the close of last month. The primary function of this team was to assess potential serious risks posed by AI models and to devise mitigation strategies—for instance, preventing scenarios where AI might operate autonomously to compromise other systems. The Financial Times reports that these responsibilities have now been decentralized, with specific areas such as biological and cyber risks being integrated into existing teams.
This move marks another in a series of organizational shifts within the company, which has been in a state of flux while preparing for what is expected to be a substantial IPO. Over the past few years, OpenAI has gradually moved away from its more research-oriented framework, notably dissolving its AGI readiness and superalignment teams. Recent high-profile departures further highlight this trend, including Ethics lead Chloé Bakalar, Chief Futurist Josh Achiam, and head of safety Johannes Heidecke. Such changes have drawn criticism from figures like Jan Leike, who resigned from OpenAI in 2024 and reportedly told The Financial Times that the company prioritizes the development of "shiny products" over foundational safety concerns.
Dylan Scandinaro, who previously headed the preparedness team and was recruited from Anthropic in February, will now concentrate his efforts on exploring the implications of "recursive self-improving" artificial intelligence.
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