OpenAI’s robotics {hardware} lead is out. Caitlin Kalinowski, who oversaw {hardware} inside the robotics division of OpenAI, posted on X that she was resigning from her position, whereas criticizing the corporate’s haste in partnering with the Division of Protection with out investigating correct guardrails. OpenAI advised Engadget that there aren’t any plans to switch Kalinowski.
Kalinowski, who beforehand labored at Meta earlier than leaving to affix OpenAI in late 2024, wrote on X that “surveillance of People with out judicial oversight and deadly autonomy with out human authorization are traces that deserved extra deliberation than they bought.” Responding to a different submit, the previous OpenAI exec defined that “the announcement was rushed with out the guardrails outlined,” including that it was a “governance concern at the beginning.”
OpenAI confirmed Kalinowski’s resignation and mentioned in a press release to Engadget that the corporate understands individuals have “sturdy views” about these points and can proceed to interact in discussions with related events. The corporate additionally defined within the assertion that it does not help the problems that Kalinowski introduced up.
“We consider our settlement with the Pentagon creates a workable path for accountable nationwide safety makes use of of AI whereas making clear our pink traces: no home surveillance and no autonomous weapons,” the OpenAI assertion learn.
Kalinowski’s resignation stands out as the most high-profile fallout from OpenAI’s determination to signal a take care of the Division of Protection. The choice got here simply after Anthropic refused to adjust to lifting sure AI guardrails round mass surveillance and growing absolutely autonomous weapons. Nonetheless, even OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman, mentioned that he would amend the take care of the Division of Protection to ban spying on People.
Correction, March 8 2026, 10:30AM ET: This story has been up to date to right Kalinowski’s position at OpenAI to “robotics {hardware} lead” as a substitute of “head of robotics.”
