OpenAI will need to find a new head of robotics. Caitlin Kalinowski, OpenAI’s now former head of robotics, posted on X that she was resigning from her role, criticizing the company’s haste in partnering with the Defense Department without checking proper guardrails.
Kalinowski, who worked at Meta before leaving to join OpenAI in late 2024, wrote on X that “Surveillance of Americans without judicial oversight and lethal autonomy without human authorization are lines that needed more deliberation than they got.” Responding to another post, the former OpenAI executive explained that “the announcement was made without any limitations,” adding that it was “first and foremost a governance concern.”
OpenAI confirmed Kalinowski’s resignation and said in a statement to Engadget that the company understands that people have “strong views” about these issues and that it will continue to engage in discussions with relevant parties. The company also said in the statement that it does not support the issues raised by Kalinowski.
“We believe our agreement with the Pentagon creates a practical path for responsible national security use of AI while clarifying our red lines: no domestic surveillance and no autonomous weapons,” OpenAI’s statement said.
Kalinowski’s resignation may be the most high-profile fallout of OpenAI’s decision to sign the deal with the Defense Department. The decision came after Anthropic refused to remove some AI guardrails around mass surveillance and develop fully autonomous weapons. However, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also said he would amend the agreement with the Defense Department to prohibit spying on Americans.
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