India, Aug. 5 -- OpenAI has agreed to pay $3.2 million to settle allegations by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) that it discriminated against American workers by giving preference to temporary visa holders during parts of its hiring process, the department announced on Tuesday.

The settlement resolves claims that OpenAI and its subsidiary, Statsig Inc., violated the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) while recruiting for jobs under the Permanent Labor Certification (PERM) programme, a pathway employers use to sponsor foreign workers for US permanent residency.

According to the DOJ, the companies failed to provide US workers with a fair opportunity to apply for certain technology positions tied to the PERM process.

The Justice Dep...