OpenAI is facing fresh scrutiny over governance and leadership as new investigations reveal major internal issues. The watchdog project, The OpenAI Files, calls out OpenAI for rushed safety checks, reckless culture, and conflicts of interest at the top.
The Files come from the Midas Project and Tech Oversight Project, highlighting how OpenAI’s leadership integrity and governance practices don’t match the scale of their AI mission. They claim OpenAI bowed to investor demands, scrapping its original profit cap to secure funding.
The investigation points to board members and CEO Sam Altman’s private investments overlapping with OpenAI’s businesses. It also digs into Altman’s questionable conduct, echoing last year’s employee revolt against him. 
Former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever reportedly said:
“I don’t think Sam is the guy who should have the finger on the button for AGI.”
The OpenAI Files urge greater transparency and accountability as the company races toward artificial general intelligence, warning that unchecked power lies in few hands. The project demands higher standards for ethical leadership and responsible AI governance.
OpenAI has yet to comment on the findings. Meanwhile, the watchdogs want the AI industry to rethink its rapid rollout of tech without proper safeguards—putting humanity’s future at risk.
