In a significant shift within the artificial intelligence (AI) industry, John Schulman, one of the co-founders of OpenAI, has officially left the company to join rival AI startup Anthropic. This move comes as Greg Brockman, another OpenAI co-founder and its current president, takes an extended leave from the company. These developments signal a notable transition period for OpenAI, a leading player in the AI landscape.
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Schulman’s Departure to Anthropic
John Schulman, a key figure in the development of OpenAI’s technologies, announced his decision to leave the company to focus more intensively on AI alignment—the science of ensuring that AI systems behave in accordance with human intentions. Schulman, who played a crucial role in creating OpenAI’s renowned AI models, including the platform behind ChatGPT, is now set to continue his work at Anthropic, a competitor known for its focus on AI safety and alignment.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Schulman expressed his desire to engage more deeply in hands-on technical research. He explained that Anthropic’s commitment to AI alignment research aligns closely with his own goals, and he believes that joining Anthropic will provide him with fresh perspectives and opportunities to collaborate with experts in the field. Greg
Schulman’s tenure at OpenAI was marked by his leadership in the company’s reinforcement learning initiatives, a critical aspect of developing AI models that can effectively learn and adapt to human instructions. Following the departure of Jan Leike, another prominent AI safety researcher who also moved to Anthropic, Schulman took on the role of leading OpenAI’s alignment science efforts, which have been instrumental in shaping the company’s approach to responsible AI Greg development.
Despite his departure, Schulman emphasized that his decision was not influenced by any lack of support from OpenAI’s leadership. He highlighted the company’s ongoing commitment to AI safety and alignment, noting that his decision was purely a personal one, driven by his desire to focus his efforts in a new environment. Greg
Brockman’s Extended Leave
In addition to Schulman’s departure, OpenAI confirmed that Greg Brockman, the company’s president and another co-founder, will be taking an extended leave of absence through the end of the year. Brockman’s decision to step back temporarily comes after nine years of intensive work at OpenAI, during which he played a central role in the company’s growth and strategic direction. Greg
OpenAI has described Brockman’s leave as a period for him to “relax and recharge,” a move that reflects the intense demands placed on leaders in the rapidly evolving AI industry. The company did not provide specific details about Brockman’s future plans but confirmed that his leave is expected to last until the end of the year. Greg
Additional Departures and Future Implications
Peter Deng, a product manager who joined OpenAI in 2023 after leading product teams at major tech companies such as Meta, Uber, and Airtable, also exited the company earlier this year. His departure, along with those of Schulman and Brockman, marks a period of transition for OpenAI as it navigates the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly growing and competitive AI sector.
With Schulman’s departure, only three of OpenAI’s 11 original founders remain: CEO Sam Altman, Brockman, and Wojciech Zaremba, who leads the company’s efforts in language and code generation. Altman expressed deep gratitude for Schulman’s contributions to OpenAI, praising him as a brilliant researcher and a valuable friend. Altman’s message underscores the impact that Schulman has had on the company and the AI industry as a whole.Greg
As OpenAI continues to push the boundaries of AI research and development, the departure of key figures like Schulman and the temporary absence of Brockman will likely prompt questions about the company’s future direction and leadership. However, OpenAI’s strong foundation and ongoing commitment to innovation and safety suggest that it will continue to play a leading role in the AI field, even as it undergoes these significant changes.
The AI community will be closely watching how these developments unfold and what impact they will have on the broader landscape of AI research and industry dynamics. Greg
