OpenAI’s head of security programs, Johannes Heidecke, informed employees 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 employees seen by WIRED, chief analysis officer Mark Chen mentioned 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 turn out to be the corporate’s interim head of security programs, reporting to Glaese.
“The calls for on security proceed to extend—we’re coaching fashions at a a lot quicker cadence, and launch cycles have come down tremendously in flip,” mentioned Chen within the memo. “In consequence, now we have greater coordination challenges round security right this moment than ever earlier than.”
Heidecke joined OpenAI in 2021 as an AI security analyst. He took over as the corporate’s head of security programs in 2024, after the earlier head, Lilian Weng, left to cofound Considering Machines Lab with different OpenAI researchers.
“We’re grateful for Johannes’ contributions to OpenAI,” mentioned Chen in an announcement to WIRED. “It’s essential 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 selections. We’re excited for this subsequent chapter underneath 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 so far on agentic coding duties. Nevertheless, in comparison with earlier fashions, OpenAI says GPT-5.6 confirmed concerning forms of misaligned behavior.
Heidecke is the most recent safety-focused chief to depart from OpenAI in latest days. Earlier this week, OpenAI’s chief futurist, Joshua Achiam, additionally informed colleagues he would go away the corporate after 9 years researching security.
It’s additionally not simply OpenAI’s security groups which might be altering. Earlier this week, OpenAI’s CEO of AGI deployment Fidji Simo informed employees she would step down from her position after an prolonged medical depart. The corporate mentioned 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 nicely.
