Fidji Simo, one of OpenAI's most senior executives, is leaving her full-time job at the ChatGPT maker to focus on her health, the company and Simo confirmed this week.
Simo held the title of CEO of AGI Deployment — described across outlets as OpenAI's No. 2 role and its applications chief — reporting to Sam Altman. According to Reuters, she said on Thursday, July 9 that she will step down from the full-time position and move into a part-time advisory role. She announced the transition on X, The Verge reports.
The decision follows an extended medical absence. As Wired notes, the move comes after Simo took significant medical leave, and The Verge reports she first said in April that she would take a few weeks off because of a neuroimmune condition. According to TechCrunch, that leave ultimately proved longer than expected. Variety and other outlets frame the departure as a step back to focus on recovery from a chronic illness. In comments reported by Firstpost, Simo reflected that she "should have played long game."
The timing is notable. TechCrunch reports the leadership gap arrives at a delicate moment for OpenAI, which is eyeing a possible IPO and racing to catch rival Anthropic in the enterprise market. Business Insider and Bloomberg describe it as the latest in a series of leadership changes at the company.
Simo joined OpenAI from Instacart, where she had been chief executive, and was brought in to build out the business side of the fast-growing AI firm.
Why it matters: OpenAI is trying to turn a research lab into a durable, revenue-generating company ahead of a potential public listing — and losing a key operational leader adds uncertainty just as competition and investor scrutiny intensify.