OpenAI employee resigns citing burn out, says toll on mental health is 'scary, dangerous'

His departure comes at a time when concerns are increasingly being voiced about the psychological strain experienced by researchers working in advanced AI laboratories

Hieu Pham, a member of technical staff at OpenAI who previously worked at xAI, has announced his departure from the company, stating that the demands of working at the forefront of artificial intelligence have taken a serious toll on his mental health.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Pham spent more than seven months at OpenAI. In a post published on X (formerly Twitter), he described his time at both organisations as professionally significant but personally challenging.

“I have made the difficult decision to leave @OpenAI,” Pham wrote. “Working here and at @xai before was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I have met the best people. Not the best people in AI. Not the best people in tech. Simply the best people. At these companies, I have helped creating extremely intelligent entities that will meaningfully improve our lives. The work makes me proud.”

He went on to explain that the pace and intensity of the work had affected his wellbeing.

“But the intensive work came with a price. I cannot believe I would say this one day, but I am burnt out. All the mental health deteriorating that I used to scoff at is real, miserable, scary, and dangerous.”

Pham stated that he would step away from what he referred to as “frontier AI labs” and return to his home country.

“I am going to take a break from frontier AI labs, and will take my family to my home country Vietnam.

“There, I will try something new, and also search for a cure for my conditions. I hope I will heal. Until then.”

I have made the difficult decision to leave @OpenAI.

Working here and at @xai before was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I have met the best people. Not the best people in AI. Not the best people in tech. Simply the best people. At these companies, I have helped creating… — Hieu Pham (@hyhieu226) February 26, 2026

His comments prompted a wave of responses from technology professionals and social media users, many of whom reflected on the pressures associated with rapid AI development.

One user wrote: “This is the other side of AI development no one talks about. There is a heavy paradox in building systems to improve human lives while sacrificing your own life to do it. It's a brave decision to break that cycle. Burnout is not a badge of honor, and healing is not a sign of weakness. Touch some grass and enjoy the time home with your family.”

Another commented: “Man, this hits hard. Burnt out at the frontier is no joke. Take care of yourself first. The work will always be there, but you won't be if you don't step back. I hope Vietnam brings you what you need. Rooting for you.”

A further response read: “There are people on LinkedIn already predicting that 2026 is the year of developer burnout due to the rate of advancement in AI. Balance in life is so important.”

Others shared personal experiences. One individual wrote: “I burned out during my doctorate, but I took the proper actions before it could affect my life. I wish you good health and speedy recovery.” Another added: “Take good care of yourself. The front lines of cutting-edge fields are always like this. I deeply empathise with your exhaustion, and thank you for your wonderful contributions.”

Pham had previously drawn attention online after expressing anxiety about the broader implications of artificial intelligence. In an earlier post, he wrote: “Today, I finally feel the existential threat that AI is posing.”

He continued: “When AI becomes overly good and disrupts everything, what will be left for humans to do? And it's when, not if.”

His departure comes at a time when concerns are increasingly being voiced about the psychological strain experienced by researchers working in advanced AI laboratories. OpenAI has, on several occasions, faced scrutiny over its safety culture and the circumstances surrounding staff exits.

Recently, Zoe Hitzig, a researcher at OpenAI, resigned while expressing “deep reservations” regarding the company’s direction and strategic decisions.

Other firms in the artificial intelligence sector have also seen senior departures linked to wider concerns. At Anthropic, Mrinank Sharma, who led the Safeguards Research Team, stepped down, stating that the “world is in peril”, not solely because of AI or biological threats, but due to a “whole series of interconnected crises unfolding” at present.