February 13, 2026
OpenAI’s safety word: deleted
OpenAI has deleted the word 'safely' from its mission
OpenAI drops “safely” — internet cries arms race, Wall Street cheers
TLDR: OpenAI removed “safely” from its mission as it shifts further into a for‑profit model amid safety lawsuits. Commenters split between calling it investor-friendly spin and warning of an AI arms race, while others shrug that this is normal corporate cleanup—raising big questions about priorities and oversight.
OpenAI quietly scrubbed the word “safely” from its mission statement in a new filing, and the comment sections immediately went nuclear. To critics, this is the mask slipping: a once-idealistic nonprofit pivoting hard into profit as it restructures into a traditional company and courts big money. One user flat-out shouted “Scam Altman,” while another asked if dropping the word was just legal fine print to keep future investors happy — a neat, cynical bow on a messy makeover. Meanwhile, OpenAI is fighting safety-related lawsuits alleging serious harm, which made the word swap feel extra spicy.
Others countered that this is just corporate cleanup, noting OpenAI’s evolution: Microsoft’s billions, the 2019 for‑profit arm, and a 2024 raise that nudged it toward a conventional company with real shareholders. The arms race narrative is gaining steam, with commenters warning it’s now “move fast or lose,” as rivals sprint to win “winner takes all.” And then, the zinger: “Coincidentally, they started releasing much better models lately,” said one, implying speed over safety is paying off in product.
Memes rolled in too — a deadpan “this is fine” captured the mood. Whether it’s legal polish, profit pivot, or both, the crowd is split: safety theater vs ship faster. Either way, dropping that one word spoke volumes (source).
Key Points
- •OpenAI removed the word “safely” from its mission statement in an IRS disclosure covering 2024, released in November 2025.
- •OpenAI was founded in 2015 as a nonprofit research lab and created a for-profit subsidiary in 2019 under CEO Sam Altman.
- •Microsoft invested US$1 billion initially, increasing to $13 billion by 2024, with a profit cap of 100x the initial investment and no nonprofit board seat.
- •A late-2024 funding round of $6.6 billion included terms pushing OpenAI toward a traditional for-profit structure with uncapped profits and potential investor board seats.
- •In October 2025, OpenAI agreed with California and Delaware attorneys general to restructure into a nonprofit foundation and a for-profit entity; the company faces multiple safety-related lawsuits.