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OpenAI disbanded its Preparedness team at the end of July, the Financial Times reported. The unit assessed severe risks linked to advanced artificial intelligence models. Its work covered biological threats, cybersecurity attacks and systems that could operate without proper human control.
The company divided these duties among teams specializing in biosecurity and cybersecurity. The change comes during a broader restructuring before OpenAI’s expected initial public offering. Several senior executives have also left or changed roles during 2026.
The Preparedness team examined models for capabilities that could cause severe harm. Staff also developed safeguards intended to limit those risks before model releases. OpenAI has not said that it will stop conducting these assessments.
Instead, the company assigned the work to existing groups with knowledge of each risk area. Co-founder Greg Brockman has supported this structure. He argues that placing safety staff closer to development teams can strengthen risk controls.
Dylan Scandinaro previously led the OpenAI Preparedness team. Wired reported that he now studies risks linked to self-improving AI systems. These systems could potentially improve their abilities with limited human direction.
OpenAI maintains a Preparedness Framework for tracking risks from advanced AI. The company updated the framework in April 2025. It defines High and Critical capability levels across several risk categories.
The framework also introduced Safeguards Reports for models reaching certain capability levels. An internal Safety Advisory Group reviews those reports before providing recommendations about deployment.
OpenAI has now closed three safety-focused groups within roughly two years. The company disbanded its AGI Readiness team in 2024. It later closed the Mission Alignment team in February 2026.
Each restructuring moved safety responsibilities into other departments. OpenAI says this approach connects risk management with everyday research, model development and product decisions.
The repeated changes have raised ‘questions’ among some current and former employees about continuity. Dedicated teams often build specialized knowledge about model testing, emerging threats and safety procedures.
Staff changes can also affect how organizations preserve that knowledge. OpenAI has not announced a direct replacement for the Preparedness team. Its specialized groups now handle the unit’s former responsibilities.
Several senior leaders have left OpenAI during the restructuring. Chief Revenue Officer Denise Dresser announced her departure after joining the company in December. Former Chief Operating Officer Brad Lightcap also left after eight years.
Chloé Bakalar, OpenAI’s Head of Ethics, departed in July. Joshua Achiam, the former Head of Mission Alignment, also left that month. Fidji Simo stepped back from her full-time role and became an adviser.
AI startup founder Kevin McCormick described the departures before an IPO as ‘a huge red flag.’ His comment reflected outside concern rather than OpenAI’s stated position.
OpenAI described the changes as part of efforts to simplify its structure. The company said it was ‘moving at an exceptional pace and unafraid to make organisational changes.’
Reports say OpenAI confidentially filed for a United States listing in June. The filing included no confirmed valuation, offering size or listing date. Reports have linked the potential 2027 IPO to a valuation reaching $1 trillion.
OpenAI also added new leadership during the changes. Former Wiz executive Dali Rajic joined as chief revenue officer. Researcher Noam Shazeer joined in June to lead architecture research after previously working on Google’s Gemini models.
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