John Schulman, co-founder of OpenAI, recently announced his departure from the Microsoft-backed company to join Anthropic, an artificial intelligence startup funded by Amazon. This move comes shortly after OpenAI disbanded its superalignment team, which was focused on ensuring control over AI systems exceeding human capability. Schulman, who had been leading OpenAI’s post-training team, is known for refining AI models such as the ChatGPT chatbot and a programming interface for developers.
In a social media post, Schulman explained that his decision to leave OpenAI was motivated by his desire to deepen his focus on AI alignment and return to hands-on technical work. Despite emphasizing that company leaders were supportive of new work on the topic, Schulman made the choice to pursue a new chapter in his career at Anthropic.
Schulman’s departure follows the exits of Jan Leike and Ilya Sutskever, leaders of OpenAI’s superalignment team. Leike joined Anthropic, while Sutskever announced his involvement in starting a new company, Safe Superintelligence Inc. The departure of these key figures has resulted in significant shifts within the company, with employees expressing concerns and protests over leadership decisions.
Despite the recent changes, OpenAI remains dedicated to advancing AI safety and evaluations. Sam Altman, co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, highlighted Schulman’s contribution to the startup’s early strategy and emphasized the ongoing commitment to safety initiatives. Altman mentioned collaborations with the US AI Safety Institute and plans to provide early access to future foundation models for further scientific progress in the field.
In addition to Schulman’s departure, Greg Brockman, another co-founder and president of OpenAI, announced his sabbatical for the remainder of the year. These changes reflect a period of transition and reorganization within the company as it navigates through shifts in leadership and strategic priorities.
John Schulman’s decision to leave OpenAI for Anthropic marks a significant change within the artificial intelligence industry. As key figures depart from established companies to pursue new opportunities in AI startups, the landscape of the field continues to evolve. The ongoing commitment to AI safety and alignment remains a central focus for industry leaders, shaping the future of artificial intelligence research and development.
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