OpenAI employees raised concerns about the company’s operational security practices for years, according to a Reuters report citing people familiar with the matter. The concerns reportedly began before OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022. Five people familiar with the matter told Reuters that staff had raised security issues internally with senior company leaders and members of its board. Some employees reportedly believed that the company’s security controls were insufficient to protect sensitive information about its technology. According to the sources, workers expressed concern that outsiders, potentially including foreign governments, could obtain confidential information relatively easily. The report also describes reactions among former employees following OpenAI’s disclosure in October that a recording device had been discovered in an executive conference room. Several former workers reportedly said they were not surprised by the incident. Some employees who raised concerns reportedly came away from discussions believing that management was more focused on keeping pace with competitors such as Google and Anthropic than on addressing security risks. Reuters said OpenAI has begun shifting its strategy to address security issues, citing two people familiar with the matter. The concerns highlight the importance of operational security at AI companies, which handle sensitive research, proprietary technology and confidential business information. However, the supplied report does not include OpenAI’s full response to the allegations, detailed descriptions of the security controls involved or evidence establishing that foreign governments obtained sensitive information. The reported employee concerns and assessments should therefore be distinguished from independently confirmed security breaches.

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