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An alarming signal is brewing in the artificial intelligence industry: OpenAI, one of the market leaders in generative models, has been left without a key ethics specialist. Chloe Bakalar, who headed the AI ethics division, left the company in July—less than a year after her appointment. This is not just a personnel reshuffle, but a symptom of deeper problems in the approach to regulating development.

Personnel vacuum in a critical area

According to my data, Bakalar was the only full-time employee responsible for ethical aspects at OpenAI. No replacement has been found for her, which calls into question the company's real commitment to the principles of responsible AI. In response to inquiries, the ChatGPT developer stated that ethics is not the responsibility of a single individual or team, but is embedded directly into the model creation process. However, this position looks more like an attempt to justify the absence of systematic oversight than a deliberate strategy.

Market context and risks

This event occurs against the backdrop of growing pressure from regulators and the public. While the European Union is tightening AI requirements through the AI Act, and the US is actively discussing new norms, the absence of dedicated ethical oversight at OpenAI could lead to reputational and legal consequences. This is especially critical for products used by millions of users daily—from ChatGPT to API solutions for businesses.

From my point of view, the situation at OpenAI demonstrates a systemic problem across the entire industry: AI ethics is often perceived as a secondary element rather than an integral part of the product lifecycle. Until companies begin investing in full-fledged ethical structures, the risks of unintended consequences—from algorithm bias to abuse—will only grow. Bakalar's departure is not the end of the story, but the beginning of a new phase where the market will closely watch whether OpenAI can back up its claims with action.