Builder: OpenAI quadruples payouts for critical vulnerabilities in ChatGPT and Codex, launching a new

OpenAI announced a significant increase in its bug bounty payouts, raising the maximum potential earnings for outside researchers to roughly $172,000.reported The company quadrupled its previous rates for critical vulnerabilities found in core products such as ChatGPT and Codex. This move aligns OpenAI’s rewards more closely with competitors like Google, though it remains below the top-tier payouts offered by Apple or Microsoft for operating system exploits.

What it does

The updated program introduces a five-tier loyalty system and time-limited campaigns that offer boosted payouts tied to new feature launches. Critical vulnerabilities in core products now earn researchers up to $30,000.reported Exceptional findings can net up to $100,000.reported When quality, loyalty, and campaign bonuses are applied, the total compensation can reach approximately $172,000.reported Anyone who reported a vulnerability in the last 30 days will receive the difference between the old and new rates retroactively.reported

How to get it

Researchers can participate in the bug bounty program by reporting vulnerabilities in OpenAI’s core products. The company also announced a new internal security sprint. During this initiative, the security firm Cathedral will team up with OpenAI’s own engineers to stress-test the company’s systems. This collaborative approach involves external and internal teams working together to evaluate system security.

Limits

The $172,000 figure represents the maximum potential earning including various bonuses, not a standard payout for a single bug.reported The base payout for critical vulnerabilities is $30,000. Exceptional findings can reach $100,000.reported The program focuses on core products like ChatGPT and Codex. OpenAI’s payouts are still below the top-tier rewards offered by Apple or Microsoft for OS-level exploits, indicating a tiered approach to security compensation across the tech industry.

The takeaway

OpenAI is ramping up its security efforts by both incentivizing external researchers and intensifying internal testing. The company previously reported that 25 percent of its product engineers worked on finding vulnerabilities during the last security sprint.reported This combined approach of external bounties and internal stress-testing suggests a comprehensive strategy to harden its AI systems against emerging threats.

Building on this

The documented capabilities include a five-tier loyalty program and time-limited campaigns with boosted payouts tied to new feature launches. Developers can observe that critical vulnerabilities in core products like ChatGPT or Codex earn outside researchers up to $30,000.reported Exceptional findings can net up to $100,000.reported