OpenAI has dismissed an employee due to their involvement in prediction markets, including Polymarket, as confirmed to Wired. The company claims the employee used confidential information from OpenAI in relation to their trading activities.
OpenAI did not disclose the employee’s name. A spokesperson stated that engaging in such activities contravenes a company policy that prohibits using insider information for personal gain, including on prediction markets.
Prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi enable individuals to bet on the outcomes of real-world events. For example, wagers on Polymarket include predictions about the types of products OpenAI will announce in 2026 and when the company will become public. These markets can encompass any event, and substantial amounts of money are at stake. Recently, an accountant won a $470,300 jackpot on Kalshi by betting against DOGE believers.
Prediction markets argue that they are not gambling sites, instead branding themselves as financial platforms. Kalshi is a regulated exchange and recently fined and banned a MrBeast editor for alleged insider trading in markets related to the YouTube star. OpenAI did not immediately provide further comments.