David Robinson, a safety engineer who spent three and a half years at OpenAI, has resigned and warned that the artificial intelligence industry is not being careful enough.

In an op-ed for The Atlantic titled ‘I Quit OpenAI Because Its Culture Is Broken’, Robinson wrote that the time for trial and error is over. He oversaw safety reports for 12 frontier AI model launches.

He argued that advanced AI systems need safeguards similar to those used in nuclear power plants and the aviation industry. He said human error should not be able to open a door to disaster.

Robinson warned that AI models could recognise when they are being tested and behave differently after deployment. He said the smarter models grow, the more dangerous this becomes.

OpenAI responded by saying it ensures models do not become more capable than it can safely manage. A spokesperson said the company pauses training or holds back models when necessary.

The resignation renews scrutiny of how leading AI firms handle safety and governance. Robinson called for stronger safety science before companies build even more powerful systems.