OpenAI, a leading research and deployment company in the artificial intelligence field, is experiencing a significant shakeup in its leadership team. The company’s chief research officer, Bob McGrew, and research VP, Barret Zoph, have both announced their departure just hours after OpenAI’s CTO, Mira Murati, revealed her exit. CEO Sam Altman made the announcements in a post on Wednesday evening, outlining the leadership transition plans that will follow.
Leadership Changes at OpenAI
Altman explained that the resignations of Murati, McGrew, and Zoph were independent decisions made amicably by each individual. However, the timing of Murati’s departure prompted the company to announce the changes simultaneously to facilitate a smooth handover to the next generation of leadership. In response to these developments, Mark Chen, the VP of research, is being promoted to the new position of SVP of research at OpenAI. He will work alongside Jakub Pachocki, who will serve as the chief scientist in leading the company’s research organization.
Matt Knight, who previously held the position of head of security, will now take on the role of chief information security officer at OpenAI. Meanwhile, Kevin Weil, the chief product officer, and Srinivas Narayanan, the VP of engineering, will continue to lead the applied team at OpenAI. This team is responsible for delivering the company’s advanced technology to both enterprise and consumer customers.
Additionally, Josh Achiam, a research scientist at OpenAI, will assume a new position as head of mission alignment. Altman emphasized that these key leaders will report directly to him as he transitions his focus to the technical and product aspects of the company. He expressed confidence in the new leadership team and their ability to drive OpenAI forward in its mission.
Reasons for Departure
McGrew, who has been with OpenAI since 2017 and served as the chief research officer, cited the need for a break as the reason for his departure. Reflecting on his time at the company, McGrew described it as a humbling and awe-inspiring journey, highlighting OpenAI’s evolution from a small nonprofit to a globally recognized research and deployment organization. He expressed confidence in the leadership team and the company’s continued success.
Zoph, who joined OpenAI in 2022 and led the post-training team, indicated that it was a natural point for him to explore new opportunities outside of the company. He played a key role in training and improving OpenAI’s models before their deployment in products like ChatGPT and the company’s API. Zoph’s decision to leave OpenAI was driven by his desire to evolve his career in a new direction.
Transition to For-Profit Entity
The departures of key executives from OpenAI come amidst reports of the company’s potential transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit entity. Speculation suggests that CEO Sam Altman is set to receive a 7% equity stake in the company as part of this transition. With OpenAI reportedly being valued at $150 billion in a new funding round, disagreements over the company’s direction may have played a role in the recent leadership changes.
Altman acknowledged the demanding nature of leadership roles at OpenAI, emphasizing the privilege of advancing cutting-edge research and technology to millions of users worldwide. While the leadership changes may seem abrupt, Altman reassured staff and external observers that such transitions are a natural part of a rapidly growing and evolving company like OpenAI. An all-hands meeting scheduled for Thursday is expected to shed further light on the company’s future direction.
In conclusion, the leadership changes at OpenAI reflect the dynamic nature of the artificial intelligence industry and the evolving priorities of the company. As OpenAI continues to innovate and expand its reach, the new leadership team under CEO Sam Altman is poised to guide the company towards its next phase of growth and development.
