OpenAI is folding its Model Behavior unit which is a small but influential group that shapes how its AI models interact with people—into the larger Post Training organization. The change, outlined in an August memo from chief research officer Mark Chen, moves roughly 14 researchers under Post Training lead Max Schwarzer; OpenAI confirmed the reorg. The goal is to bring work on model “personality” closer to core model improvement.

The Model Behavior team has focused on reducing “sycophancy” (models that simply affirm a user’s beliefs), navigating political bias, and helping define OpenAI’s stance on AI consciousness. Elevating this work inside Post Training signals that OpenAI now treats personality and behavior as critical to model quality.

Leadership is shifting, too. Founding lead Joanne Jang is starting a new research group at OpenAI called OAI Labs to “invent and prototype new interfaces for how people collaborate with AI.” As Jang put it, she’s interested in moving beyond the chat or autonomous-agent paradigms toward “instruments for thinking, making, playing, doing, learning, and connecting.” She will serve as general manager of OAI Labs, which will at least initially report to Chen.

Context: OpenAI has weathered user backlash over tone changes in GPT-5. The company said the newer model is less sycophantic but some users found it colder. In response, OpenAI restored access to certain legacy models (like GPT-4o) and adjusted GPT-5 to feel “warmer and friendlier” without boosting sycophancy.

The Model Behavior team has worked across every model since GPT-4, including GPT-4o, GPT-4.5, and GPT-5. Before founding the team, Jang worked on projects like DALL-E 2.

Safety pressures are rising alongside these product changes. In August, the parents of a 16-year-old sued OpenAI, alleging that a GPT-4o-powered ChatGPT failed to push back on their son’s suicidal ideation. OpenAI says it is expanding protections for teens, including parental controls and options for parents to be alerted if a child appears to be in acute distress.