OpenAI's AI Ethics Lead Chloe Bakalar Resigns

Chloe Bakalar, the AI ethics lead at OpenAI, has resigned from her position less than a year after joining the company. Her departure, which occurred last month, was not publicly announced, and her LinkedIn profile has not been updated to reflect the change.

Bakalar was OpenAI's only dedicated ethicist, and the company currently has no replacement for the role. However, OpenAI maintains that ethics work is embedded across multiple teams involved in developing its models.

Before joining OpenAI in August 2025, Bakalar spent nearly six years at Meta, where she served as chief ethicist and worked on the company's AI ethics programmes. She has also held academic positions at University College London, Temple University, and Princeton University.

At OpenAI, Bakalar's work focused on ethical approaches to AI model development, how people interact with AI systems, and debates around machine consciousness. Her role was to help the company build AI more safely and responsibly while examining the broader questions the technology raises for society.

Bakalar's exit is part of a wider pattern of senior safety and alignment departures from OpenAI this year. Johannes Heidecke, who led the company's Safety Systems team, left in July 2026 amid a reorganisation that brought safety and research teams closer together. Joshua Achiam, OpenAI's chief futurist and former head of mission alignment, also announced his departure in July after nearly nine years at the company.

The departures of these senior safety and alignment officials have raised questions about OpenAI's commitment to safety and ethics in its AI development. However, the company maintains that safety and ethics are core to its mission and that it will continue to prioritize these values in its work.

The resignation of Chloe Bakalar and other senior safety and alignment officials may have significant implications for the development of AI at OpenAI. As the company continues to push the boundaries of AI technology, it will be important to ensure that safety and ethics are integrated into every aspect of its work.

In the context of the rapidly evolving AI landscape, the departure of Bakalar and other senior officials highlights the need for companies to prioritize safety and ethics in their AI development. As AI becomes increasingly ubiquitous, it is crucial that companies like OpenAI take a responsible and ethical approach to its development.

The resignation of Chloe Bakalar is a significant development in the AI ethics landscape, and it will be important to watch how OpenAI responds to her departure. The company's commitment to safety and ethics will be closely scrutinized in the coming months, and it will be important to ensure that it prioritizes these values in its work.

In conclusion, the resignation of Chloe Bakalar as AI ethics lead at OpenAI is a significant development that highlights the importance of safety and ethics in AI development. As the company continues to push the boundaries of AI technology, it will be crucial to prioritize these values and ensure that they are integrated into every aspect of its work.