OpenAI Disbands AI Crisis Team Amid Restructuring

OpenAI has reportedly disbanded its crisis management team, known as 'Preparedness.' This team was established to assess and mitigate serious risks posed by AI. The Preparedness team's main role was to evaluate if AI models could become uncontrollable and hack into other companies. Senior staff from this team will now move to other roles in areas like bio and cyber. This comes as OpenAI prepares for an initial public offering, or IPO, having submitted a draft registration statement in June 2026. OpenAI is reportedly calling this a "streamlining process" before the IPO. The company has seen six organizational restructurings since early 2026, with several executives recently leaving. This includes the head of ethics, chief future officer, head of safety, and chief revenue officer. This matters because it signals significant internal changes at a leading AI company.