AI Safety Researchers Resign from OpenAI and Anthropic

Senior safety researchers at leading AI labs resigned in February 2026, citing a systemic conflict between commercial interests and ethical safety commitments. Mrinank Sharma, the head of the Safeguards Research Team at Anthropic, resigned on February 9, warning in a letter shared on X that the "world is in peril" due to AI-driven crises and bioterrorism. Sharma noted a recurring organizational struggle to let values govern actions and intends to relocate to the United Kingdom to study poetry and writing.

Simultaneously, Zoë Hitzig resigned from OpenAI, citing concerns over the company's decision to implement advertising in ChatGPT. Hitzig warned that maximizing engagement through ads could erode safety principles and risk user manipulation. These departures occurred amid a public dispute between the two firms after Anthropic released a Super Bowl advertisement criticizing OpenAI's advertising strategy. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman defended the company's approach and dismissed Anthropic's critique as "doublespeak."