Pakistani researchers working in artificial intelligence security, cybersecurity and biosafety can now apply to participate in OpenAI’s newly launched Bio Bounty Program, which offers rewards of up to $50,000 for identifying critical vulnerabilities in advanced AI systems.
The program aims to strengthen the biological safety safeguards built into OpenAI’s frontier AI models. It invites qualified researchers to uncover “universal jailbreaks” that could bypass the company’s predefined biosafety protections. By identifying these weaknesses before malicious actors do, participants will help improve the security and reliability of future AI systems.
Pakistan is among the eligible countries listed on the application form, allowing local experts to compete alongside researchers from around the world. However, the initiative is not open to the general public.
Instead, OpenAI requires interested researchers to submit an application outlining their experience and qualifications. The company will review applications on a rolling basis and invite only selected candidates to join the private testing platform. Successful applicants must also have an existing ChatGPT account and sign a non disclosure agreement before participating.
Rewards double to encourage advanced AI safety research
OpenAI has increased the program’s top reward from $25,000 to $50,000, reflecting the growing importance of external security research as AI systems become more capable.
The Bio Bounty Program evolved from the earlier GPT 5.5 Bio Bug Bounty into an ongoing initiative that will initially focus on GPT 5.6 and future frontier models. Researchers must identify a universal jailbreak capable of defeating OpenAI’s biological safety challenge rather than finding conventional software bugs or infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Unlike traditional bug bounty programs that focus on websites or applications, OpenAI’s initiative specifically targets biological misuse risks. The company wants experts to test whether advanced AI models can be manipulated into bypassing safeguards designed to prevent the generation of dangerous biological information.
Researchers who discover significant vulnerabilities could receive payouts of up to $50,000, while OpenAI may also grant smaller rewards for partial findings at its discretion.
Growing global focus on responsible AI development
The launch of the expanded Bio Bounty Program reflects a broader international effort to ensure increasingly powerful AI models remain safe and resistant to misuse.
Governments, technology companies and research institutions have intensified efforts to strengthen AI governance as frontier models become more capable across scientific and technical fields. External red teaming has become a key part of that strategy because independent researchers can identify weaknesses that internal testing may overlook.
For Pakistan, inclusion in the program provides an opportunity for researchers to contribute directly to global AI safety while gaining international recognition for their expertise in cybersecurity, AI security and biosafety.
Although selection is competitive, the initiative gives qualified Pakistani experts access to one of the world’s most advanced AI safety testing programs. Their findings could influence the development of future OpenAI models while helping reduce biological risks associated with advanced artificial intelligence.
OpenAI said the Bio Bounty Program will continue to expand as it develops new frontier models and strengthens safeguards against emerging threats in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.aa
