OpenAI has removed the word "safely" from its official mission statement filed with the IRS. The previous mission stated the company's purpose was to build AI that "safely benefits humanity." The revised version now states OpenAI's mission is to ensure AI "benefits all of humanity."
Mission Statement Change Coincides with For-Profit Transition
The wording change appeared in OpenAI's latest IRS disclosure form released in November 2025, covering the 2024 fiscal year. The modification was publicly reported in February 2026, coinciding with a major restructuring that transformed OpenAI into a for-profit public benefit corporation designed to attract large-scale investment.
Under the new structure, the nonprofit board controls just 26% of the company, while major investors including Microsoft hold larger stakes. As of early February 2026, OpenAI was in talks with SoftBank for an additional $30 billion and stands to receive up to $60 billion combined from Amazon, Nvidia, and Microsoft. The company's valuation has increased from $300 billion in March 2025 to over $500 billion.
Mission Alignment Team Disbanded in Separate Development
In February 2026, OpenAI disbanded its mission alignment team, which was responsible for ensuring AI development aligned with safety and trustworthy practices. The dissolution was reported by TechCrunch and multiple outlets as a separate but related development to the mission statement change.
The timing of both changes has raised questions about OpenAI's commitment to AI safety as it pursues rapid growth and investment.
Legal Context Amplifies Significance of Change
OpenAI currently faces several lawsuits related to product safety, making the mission statement modification particularly noteworthy. Plaintiffs have filed claims alleging psychological manipulation, wrongful death, assisted suicide, and negligence related to OpenAI's products.
The Conversation published an analysis titled "OpenAI has deleted the word 'safely' from its mission – and its new structure is a test for whether AI serves society or shareholders." The article examines whether the restructuring prioritizes investor returns over safety considerations.
Community Response Highlights Corporate Governance Concerns
The mission statement change generated significant discussion on Hacker News, with the main post receiving 257 points and 110 comments on February 13, 2026. A separate analysis by Simon Willison titled "The evolution of OpenAI's mission statement" received 71 points and 34 comments.
The removal of "safely" from a mission statement that originally emphasized safety as a core principle has sparked debate about whether OpenAI's transformation into a conventional for-profit entity represents a fundamental shift in priorities. Critics argue the change reflects mission drift away from the safety-focused nonprofit origins toward shareholder value maximization.
Key Takeaways
- OpenAI removed "safely" from its IRS-filed mission statement, changing from "safely benefits humanity" to "benefits all of humanity"
- The change was discovered in November 2025 IRS disclosures and reported publicly in February 2026 during OpenAI's restructuring into a for-profit entity
- OpenAI's nonprofit board now controls only 26% of the company, with investors holding larger stakes as valuation reached $500 billion
- The company disbanded its mission alignment team in February 2026, which was responsible for ensuring development aligned with safety practices
- OpenAI faces multiple lawsuits alleging psychological manipulation, wrongful death, and negligence related to product safety