Technology

OpenAI Co-Founder Schulman Exits to Join Anthropic Amid Management Shake-Up with Brockman Taking Extended Leave

In a significant development for the AI industry, John Schulman, one of the co-founders of OpenAI, has left the company to join rival startup Anthropic. This move comes as OpenAI president and co-founder Greg Brockman announced that he is taking an extended leave from the company until the end of the year.

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Schulman’s Departure and Next Steps

According to a statement from OpenAI, Schulman’s decision to leave was driven by his desire to focus on AI alignment research and engage in more hands-on technical work. He expressed this goal in a post on X, stating that he believes he can gain new perspectives and contribute to the development of advanced AI systems at Anthropic.

Schulman joined OpenAI shortly after completing his PhD in electrical engineering and computer sciences at UC Berkeley. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in creating the AI-powered chatbot platform ChatGPT by leading OpenAI’s reinforcement training organization. This team is responsible for fine-tuning generative AI models to follow human instructions.

In addition to his work on ChatGPT, Schulman was also head of OpenAI’s alignment science efforts, commonly known as the "post-training" team. He was a member of the company’s safety committee, which aims to ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed in a responsible manner. It is unclear who will replace Schulman in this role.

Brockman Takes Extended Leave

In a separate development, OpenAI president and co-founder Greg Brockman announced on Twitter that he is taking an extended leave from the company until the end of the year. This decision comes as Brockman cited the need to "relax and recharge" after nine years at OpenAI.

Brockman’s departure was earlier reported by The Information, which stated that he will be taking a break from his duties as president. However, it is worth noting that Brockman’s leave does not necessarily indicate any dissatisfaction with the company or its mission.

Other Departures from OpenAI

In addition to Schulman and Brockman, Peter Deng, a product manager who joined OpenAI last year after leading products at Meta, Uber, and Airtable, has also exited the company. This departure was confirmed by OpenAI, which stated that Deng had left some time ago.

OpenAI’s Response to Departures

In response to the departures of Schulman and Brockman, OpenAI released a statement expressing gratitude for their contributions to the company. The statement acknowledged the importance of AI alignment research and emphasized that OpenAI remains committed to advancing this field.

"We’re grateful for John’s contributions as a founding team member at OpenAI and his dedicated efforts in advancing alignment research," said a spokesperson for the company. "His passion and hard work have established a strong foundation that will inspire and support future innovations at OpenAI and the broader field."

Impact of Departures on AI Industry

The departures of Schulman and Brockman from OpenAI are significant developments in the AI industry. Both individuals have made substantial contributions to the development of advanced AI systems, and their departure may signal a shift in the company’s direction.

Schulman’s decision to join Anthropic highlights the growing competition between AI startups in the field of AI alignment research. As AI continues to evolve at an unprecedented rate, it is clear that companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and others will play a crucial role in shaping its development.

Conclusion

The departures of John Schulman and Greg Brockman from OpenAI are significant developments in the AI industry. While their reasons for leaving may be different, both individuals have made substantial contributions to the development of advanced AI systems. As the field continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these changes impact the future of AI research.

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