OpenAI Disbands Mission Alignment Team

The team focused on ensuring 'safe' and 'trustworthy' AI development.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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OpenAI has disbanded its internal team dedicated to working on AI alignment, which sought to ensure the company's AI systems consistently follow human intent and remain aligned with human values. The team's former leader has been given a new role as OpenAI's 'Chief Futurist', while the other team members have been reassigned throughout the company.

Why it matters

The disbanding of OpenAI's mission alignment team raises concerns about the company's commitment to developing AI systems that are safe, trustworthy, and beneficial to humanity. Alignment is a critical issue in the AI industry, as advanced AI systems could pose existential risks if not properly designed to act in accordance with human interests.

The details

OpenAI confirmed that the mission alignment team, which was formed in September 2024, has been disbanded. The team's former leader, Josh Achiam, has been given a new role as OpenAI's Chief Futurist, where he will collaborate with a physicist from the company's technical staff. The other six or seven members of the alignment team have been reassigned to different parts of the company, though it's unclear what specific work they will be doing.

  • The mission alignment team was formed in September 2024.
  • The team was disbanded in February 2026.

The players

OpenAI

An artificial intelligence research company that develops advanced AI systems.

Josh Achiam

The former head of OpenAI's mission alignment team, who has been given a new role as the company's Chief Futurist.

Jason Pruet

A physicist from OpenAI's technical staff who will be collaborating with Achiam in his new Chief Futurist role.

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What they’re saying

“My goal is to support OpenAI's mission — to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity — by studying how the world will change in response to AI, AGI, and beyond.”

— Josh Achiam, Chief Futurist, OpenAI (OpenAI blog post)

The takeaway

The disbanding of OpenAI's mission alignment team raises questions about the company's commitment to developing safe and trustworthy AI systems. As AI capabilities continue to advance, ensuring alignment with human values and interests will be critical to mitigating the potential risks posed by these technologies.