OpenAI has disbanded its Mission Alignment team, a group dedicated to ensuring the company’s AI systems are safe, trustworthy, and aligned with human values. The team, which was established in September 2024, was focused on AI alignment—a core area of research aimed at making artificial intelligence behave in ways that reflect human intent, especially in complex or adversarial situations. In a blog post, Josh Achiam, the former head of the team, announced he has been reassigned to a new role as OpenAI’s chief futurist. He described his new responsibilities as helping to shape the company’s long-term vision by studying how AI, artificial general intelligence (AGI), and emerging technologies will transform society. Achiam will collaborate with Jason Pruet, a physicist on OpenAI’s technical staff, on this effort. OpenAI confirmed to TechCrunch that the remaining members of the Alignment team—estimated at six or seven people—have been reassigned to other roles within the company. While the company did not disclose the specific departments or projects these individuals are now working on, a spokesperson said they continue to engage in alignment-related work in their new positions. The spokesperson attributed the restructuring to routine organizational shifts common in fast-moving tech environments. This move follows the earlier disbanding of OpenAI’s Superalignment team in 2024, which had been formed in 2023 with a focus on long-term existential risks posed by advanced AI. Despite the team’s dissolution, Achiam’s professional profiles still list him as Head of Mission Alignment at OpenAI, and his personal website continues to emphasize his commitment to ensuring a positive long-term future for humanity. His LinkedIn profile also reflects his tenure in that role since September 2024. The shift raises questions about OpenAI’s current priorities in AI safety and governance, especially as the company accelerates the development of increasingly powerful models. While the company maintains that alignment remains a core focus, the reallocation of its dedicated team signals a potential strategic pivot in how it approaches long-term AI risks.