OpenAI is redefining the role of its chief operating officer while promoting two key executives to the C-suite as CEO Sam Altman shifts his focus more towards the technical aspects of the organization.
The San Francisco-based firm will announce on Monday that COO Brad Lightcap will assume additional responsibilities for the company’s daily operations. His new role will include managing international growth and corporate collaborations with significant partners like Microsoft and Apple. Mark Chen and Julia Villagra have been elevated to chief research officer and chief people officer, respectively.
In this transition, Altman will concentrate on steering OpenAI’s research and product initiatives. The company has decided not to seek a replacement for former Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, who disclosed her departure from the firm in September and has since launched a new AI startup.
Since Altman’s temporary removal from his position by the board in late 2023, OpenAI has notably strengthened its leadership team, mirroring its expanding workforce, valuation, and strategic goals. The recent executive changes indicate Altman’s intention to forge ahead with pioneering AI research that underpins innovative products for consumers and businesses alike.
“We remain focused on the same core — pursuing frontier AI research that accelerates human progress,” Altman noted in a company blog. “However, we are now also delivering products utilized by hundreds of millions of people.”
The leadership changes follow a series of prominent departures from the company, which included former Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever, co-founder John Schulman, and Murati. Some of those who have left, including Jan Leike, who led a team focused on long-term AI risks, have expressed skepticism regarding OpenAI’s commitment to the safe development of AI.
In his blog, Altman expressed his belief that the “real-world usage” of OpenAI’s innovations enhances the quality of their research. The organization remains dedicated to its mission of developing artificial general intelligence—technology capable of performing most cognitive tasks better than humans—in a manner that is advantageous to humanity.
Chen is expected to take on a significant role in evaluating the necessary balance between prioritizing safety and releasing new software. A veteran of OpenAI and former senior vice president of research, Chen’s responsibilities will involve merging research with product development, aiming for “faster translation of research into products that people love.”
Founded a decade ago as a nonprofit research entity, OpenAI is currently in discussions to transition into a traditional for-profit public benefit corporation. Furthermore, the company is negotiating to secure up to $40 billion in a new funding round, with a post-money valuation estimated at $300 billion, according to prior reports by Bloomberg.
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