OpenAI launches a Safety Fellowship program funding external researchers to study AI safety and alignment

OpenAI opened applications for its Safety Fellowship, a new five-month pilot program running September through February 2027 that will fund external researchers, engineers, and practitioners to pursue independent safety and alignment research. Priority areas include safety evaluation, ethics, robustness, agentic oversight, and high-severity misuse domains, with fellows receiving a monthly stipend, compute support, and mentorship from OpenAI staff while working alongside peers at Constellation in Berkeley or remotely. Applications close May 3, with successful applicants notified by July 25.