OpenAI reorganizes analysis crew behind ChatGPT's character

[ad_1] OpenAI is reorganizing its Mannequin Habits crew, a small however influential group of researchers who form how the corporate’s AI fashions work together with individuals, TechCrunch has realized.

In an August memo to workers seen by TechCrunch, OpenAI’s chief analysis officer Mark Chen mentioned the Mannequin Habits crew — which consists of roughly 14 researchers — could be becoming a member of the Put up Coaching crew, a bigger analysis group answerable for enhancing the corporate’s AI fashions after their preliminary pre-training.

As a part of the modifications, the Mannequin Habits crew will now report back to OpenAI’s Put up Coaching lead Max Schwarzer. An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed these modifications to TechCrunch.

The Mannequin Habits crew’s founding chief, Joanne Jang, can also be shifting on to start out a brand new venture on the firm. In an interview with TechCrunch, Jang says she’s constructing out a brand new analysis crew known as OAI Labs, which will probably be answerable for “inventing and prototyping new interfaces for the way individuals collaborate with AI.”

The Mannequin Habits crew has turn into certainly one of OpenAI’s key analysis teams, answerable for shaping the character of the corporate’s AI fashions and for lowering sycophancy — which happens when AI fashions merely agree with and reinforce person beliefs, even unhealthy ones, fairly than providing balanced responses. The crew has additionally labored on navigating political bias in mannequin responses and helped OpenAI outline its stance on AI consciousness.

Within the memo to workers, Chen mentioned that now's the time to convey the work of OpenAI’s Mannequin Habits crew nearer to core mannequin improvement. By doing so, the corporate is signaling that the “character” of its AI is now thought of a important think about how the know-how evolves.

In current months, OpenAI has confronted elevated scrutiny over the conduct of its AI fashions. Customers strongly objected to character modifications made to GPT-5, which the corporate mentioned exhibited decrease charges of sycophancy however appeared colder to some customers. This led OpenAI to revive entry to a few of its legacy fashions, corresponding to GPT-4o, and to launch an replace to make the newer GPT-5 responses really feel “hotter and friendlier” with out rising sycophancy.

Techcrunch occasion

San Francisco | October 27-29, 2025

OpenAI and all AI mannequin builders should stroll a tremendous line to make their AI chatbots pleasant to speak to however not sycophantic. In August, the mother and father of a 16-year-old boy sued OpenAI over ChatGPT’s alleged function of their son’s suicide. The boy, Adam Raine, confided a few of his suicidal ideas and plans to ChatGPT (particularly a model powered by GPT-4o), in response to court docket paperwork, within the months main as much as his dying. The lawsuit alleges that GPT-4o did not push again on his suicidal ideations.

The Mannequin Habits crew has labored on each OpenAI mannequin since GPT-4, together with GPT-4o, GPT-4.5, and GPT-5. Earlier than beginning the unit, Jang beforehand labored on tasks corresponding to Dall-E 2, OpenAI’s early image-generation instrument.

Jang introduced in a publish on X final week that she’s leaving the crew to “start one thing new at OpenAI.” The previous head of Mannequin Habits has been with OpenAI for almost 4 years.

Jang informed TechCrunch she's going to function the overall supervisor of OAI Labs, which is able to report back to Chen for now. Nevertheless, it’s early days, and it’s not clear but what these novel interfaces will probably be, she mentioned.

“I’m actually excited to discover patterns that transfer us past the chat paradigm, which is presently related extra with companionship, and even brokers, the place there’s an emphasis on autonomy,” mentioned Jang. “I’ve been considering of [AI systems] as devices for considering, making, enjoying, doing, studying, and connecting.”

🧪 i’m beginning oai labs: a research-driven group centered on inventing and prototyping new interfaces for the way individuals collaborate with ai.

i’m excited to discover patterns that transfer us past chat and even brokers — towards new paradigms and devices for considering, making,…

— Joanne Jang (@joannejang) September 5, 2025

When requested whether or not OAI Labs will collaborate on these novel interfaces with former Apple design chief Jony Ive — who’s now working with OpenAI on a household of AI {hardware} units — Jang mentioned she’s open to a number of concepts. Nevertheless, she mentioned she’ll doubtless begin with analysis areas she’s extra accustomed to.

This story was up to date to incorporate a hyperlink to Jang’s publish asserting her new place, which was launched after this story revealed. We additionally make clear the fashions that OpenAI’s Mannequin Habits crew labored on.