A former OpenAI employee says the rush to beat China could push unsafe AI into the world - Business Insider

Daniel Kokotajlo, a former researcher at OpenAI, told Business Insider that the AI industry is racing to develop advanced systems while still lacking full understanding or control over them. He stated that the drive to compete with China is pushing companies to deploy technology faster than safety measures can keep pace. Kokotajlo emphasized that the alignment problem — ensuring AI systems act in accordance with human intentions — remains unsolved.

Kokotajlo resigned from OpenAI earlier this year, citing concerns about the company's shift in priorities away from safety research. In the interview, he described the current dynamic in the industry as an 'open secret' among researchers: that labs are aware of unresolved safety issues but proceed anyway due to competitive pressure. He did not name specific companies beyond OpenAI but suggested the pattern is widespread.

The Business Insider report follows a series of departures from OpenAI's safety team and broader debates about the pace of AI development. Kokotajlo's comments highlight ongoing tension between innovation speed and risk management in the sector, particularly as geopolitical rivalry influences corporate strategy.