BroadChain has learned that Caitlin Kalinowski, Head of the Robotics Team at OpenAI, has resigned. Her departure, reported by TechCrunch on March 8, comes amid controversy over OpenAI's artificial intelligence partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense.
In a social media post, Kalinowski acknowledged AI's critical role in national security but argued that issues like domestic surveillance without judicial oversight and lethal autonomous weapons deployed without human control demand far more thorough deliberation.
Kalinowski, who joined OpenAI in November 2024 after leading Meta's augmented reality glasses project, stressed that her resignation was "principled, not personal." She expressed her continued respect for OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and the broader team.
She further stated that OpenAI had not established sufficient governance and safety guardrails before announcing the partnership and that the decision-making process was too hasty.
An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed Kalinowski's departure to the media. The spokesperson reiterated that the collaboration with the Pentagon aims to establish a responsible framework for AI in national security, with explicit red lines prohibiting domestic surveillance and the development of autonomous weapons. Despite this, the partnership continues to generate significant debate within the industry.
Data indicates that following the news, ChatGPT uninstallations surged by approximately 295%, while Anthropic's Claude app climbed to the top of the U.S. App Store's free apps chart.