OpenAI’s head of security methods, Johannes Heidecke, instructed workers this week that he’s leaving the corporate, WIRED has discovered. Heidecke’s departure follows a reorganization that sought to combine OpenAI’s security and analysis groups.
In a memo to workers seen by WIRED, chief analysis officer Mark Chen stated OpenAI’s security groups will now report back to the corporate’s VP of analysis and head of alignment Mia Glaese, who will tackle an expanded position as VP of analysis and security. Saachi Jain, who beforehand led security groups at OpenAI, will develop into the corporate’s interim head of security methods, reporting to Glaese.
“The calls for on security proceed to extend—we’re coaching fashions at a a lot sooner cadence, and launch cycles have come down drastically in flip,” stated Chen within the memo. “Because of this, we’ve got greater coordination challenges round security at present than ever earlier than.”
Heidecke joined OpenAI in 2021 as an AI security analyst. He took over as the corporate’s head of security methods in 2024, after the earlier head, Lilian Weng, left to cofound Pondering Machines Lab with different OpenAI researchers.
“We’re grateful for Johannes’ contributions to OpenAI,” stated Chen in an announcement to WIRED. “It’s necessary that our security work is built-in with frontier-model improvement, with an earlier and extra direct position in shaping key mannequin, product, and launch choices. We’re excited for this subsequent chapter below Mia Glaese’s management throughout analysis and security.”
Heidecke’s departure comes as OpenAI tries to launch more and more succesful AI fashions. Earlier this week, the corporate launched GPT-5.6, its most succesful mannequin thus far on agentic coding duties. Nonetheless, in comparison with earlier fashions, OpenAI says GPT-5.6 confirmed regarding types of misaligned conduct.
Heidecke is the newest safety-focused chief to depart from OpenAI in latest days. Earlier this week, OpenAI’s chief futurist, Joshua Achiam, additionally instructed colleagues he would depart the corporate after 9 years researching security.
It’s additionally not simply OpenAI’s security groups which are altering. Earlier this week, OpenAI’s CEO of AGI deployment Fidji Simo instructed workers she would step down from her position after an prolonged medical go away. The corporate stated that Greg Brockman would proceed main OpenAI’s product groups, which he had been assigned to do in her absence, however would additionally tackle go-to-market technique as properly.
