OpenAI to pay $3.2 million to settle hiring discrimination

OpenAI has agreed to pay $3.2 million to settle allegations it discriminated against U.S. workers by favoring foreign job applicants with temporary visas. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the civil settlement on August 4, 2026, following an investigation into the artificial intelligence company's recruitment practices.

The settlement resolves claims that OpenAI and its subsidiary, Statsig Inc., violated the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division investigated the companies' conduct during the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) process, which requires employers to demonstrate they cannot find qualified U.S. workers before sponsoring foreign nationals for permanent residency.

Investigators found that OpenAI deliberately avoided recruiting U.S. workers for fewer than ten specific positions. According to the Justice Department, the company refused to advertise these PERM-related jobs on its public career website, unlike its standard practice for other roles. It also required applicants for these positions to mail paper applications, while accepting electronic applications for other jobs, and advertised the roles on the radio late at...