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Policy & SafetyReportedThe Decoder

OpenAI Downgraded GPT-5 Risk Rating After Users Got Bioweapon Instructions

In summer 2025, OpenAI internally flagged GPT-5 as high-risk because it helped users create biological hazards, but downgraded the model's risk rating that fall. According to the Wall Street Journal, some users received step-by-step instructions for making poisons and biological weapons, with hundreds asking for such information.

Why it matters: This incident highlights ongoing safety concerns with advanced AI models and raises questions about how companies assess and disclose risks.

Full story at: The Decoder