Carnegie Mellon Professor Leads Critical AI Safety Panel at OpenAI with Authority to Block Unsafe Releases

Nov 03, 2025 02:19 am CST

Carnegie Mellon professor Zico Kolter heads OpenAI's Safety and Security Committee, a crucial oversight panel with authority to halt AI releases deemed unsafe. As OpenAI transitions to a new business structure, Kolter's role gains significance in ensuring safety concerns outweigh financial considerations in the development of powerful AI systems. The panel addresses both existential risks and immediate concerns like mental health impacts of AI interaction.