Anthropic and OpenAI are reportedly telling employees to conceal company badges and logos in public. According to the New York Post, OpenAI has instructed staff not to wear items carrying its logo outside the office, while Anthropic reminds workers to hide their badges and has largely restricted branded merchandise. The precautions come amid concerns about espionage, unwanted approaches and hostility towards people working in artificial intelligence (AI).OpenAI’s security training warns that spies may offer money, friendship or romance to obtain confidential information. The guidance reportedly concerns attempts to exploit personal relationships, not a ban on employees forming them. Anthropic has also reported people trying to photograph its offices, adding to concerns about how easily workers can be identified.
OpenAI warns staff about approaches outside work
OpenAI’s security sessions describe methods ranging from overhearing conversations in cafes to bribery and attempts to build personal relationships. In one incident reported by The Wall Street Journal, a stranger approached an OpenAI employee at a San Francisco playground and gradually steered the conversation towards work. The publication claimed that the person was a spy. Employees are also reminded to use privacy screens on public transport and erase meeting-room whiteboards before leaving.Miao Hong, managing partner of Silicon Valley Future Capital and an investor in both companies, said that people repeatedly approach AI workers seeking inside information.“Everyone wants to find out about developments and information at the cutting edge of technology. They want firsthand information. They want to talk to these employees, but the employees generally avoid discussing anything,” he said.
Protests and attacks add to security concerns
The precautions also come against a backdrop of hostility towards AI companies and their employees. In March, activists wrote messages outside OpenAI’s San Francisco offices urging staff to quit over its Pentagon agreement. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s home was targeted in two separate incidents in April 2026, according to the report.One suspect allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the property and subsequently threatened OpenAI’s headquarters. Two other suspects were accused of firing a shot outside his home two days later. All three were arrested and charged, pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.Meanwhile, Anthropic disclosed in its stock-market listing filing that it spent $2.7 million on personal security services for CEO Dario Amodei, the report added.
Employees’ families describe concerns about trust
The father of an Anthropic employee, who asked not to be named, said that his son and colleagues avoid discussing work socially.“I also pay attention to safety and remind my child to be careful, because he can easily become a target. They try not to talk about their work at all. They keep it more about sports, hobbies, hiking and food,” he said.He also described the difficulty of judging whether new acquaintances were interested in his son personally or in his employer.“Whether you’re going to a party, looking for a partner or making friends, people focus on your company and your wealth,” he said. “They overlook your character and your values.”