One of OpenAI’s co-founders and a key architect of the groundbreaking ChatGPT chatbot, has announced his departure from the company to join rival firm Anthropic. This transition marks the latest in a series of high-profile exits from OpenAI, a company that has been at the forefront of AI development and has faced both acclaim and scrutiny for its rapid advancements in the field.
Schulman, whose contributions to OpenAI have been instrumental in shaping the company’s trajectory, cited a desire to focus more deeply on AI alignment research as the primary motivation for his move. AI alignment, a critical area of study aimed at ensuring that artificial intelligence systems adhere to human values and intentions, has become an increasingly important topic as AI capabilities continue to expand at an unprecedented pace.
John Schulman leaves OpenAI for Anthropic
In a statement on X to his colleagues, Schulman expressed his intention to “deepen my focus on AI alignment, and to start a new chapter of my career where I can return to hands-on technical work, alongside people deeply engaged with the topics I’m most interested in”.
He was quick to emphasize that his departure was not due to any lack of support for alignment research at OpenAI, praising the company’s leadership for their commitment to investing in this crucial area.
I shared the following note with my OpenAI colleagues today:
I've made the difficult decision to leave OpenAI. This choice stems from my desire to deepen my focus on AI alignment, and to start a new chapter of my career where I can return to hands-on technical work. I've decided…
— John Schulman (@johnschulman2) August 6, 2024
Anthropic, founded in 2021 by a group of former OpenAI researchers, has positioned itself as a company that puts “safety at the frontier” of its work. This focus aligns closely with Schulman’s stated interests and suggests that his expertise will be highly valued in his new role.
The news of Schulman’s departure comes at a time when OpenAI is already navigating a period of significant change and scrutiny. In recent months, the company has seen the exit of several other senior figures, including Ilya Sutskever, another co-founder and former chief scientist, along with members of his team. These departures have raised questions about the company’s internal dynamics and long-term strategy.
Greg is out of the office
Adding to the complexity of the situation, OpenAI’s president Greg Brockman announced on the same day as Schulman’s departure that he would be taking the rest of the year off. Brockman, who co-founded OpenAI with Schulman and others nine years ago, described this as his “first time to relax” since the company’s inception, while also reaffirming his commitment to the mission of building safe artificial general intelligence (AGI).
I’m taking a sabbatical through end of year. First time to relax since co-founding OpenAI 9 years ago. The mission is far from complete; we still have a safe AGI to build.
— Greg Brockman (@gdb) August 6, 2024
These developments follow a tumultuous period for OpenAI, which experienced a brief but intense leadership crisis in November 2023. During this episode, both Brockman and CEO Sam Altman were temporarily ousted from their positions, only to be reinstated days later following a strong show of support from employees and investors. The boardroom shake-up resulted in the replacement of most directors who had voted for Altman’s removal, with only Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo remaining from the previous board configuration.
Is this the fall of one of the fastest-growing tech companies?
OpenAI’s journey since the release of ChatGPT in November 2022 has been nothing short of meteoric. The company has achieved a staggering valuation of $86 billion and has continued to push the boundaries of AI capabilities with each new iteration of its technology. However, this rapid progress has not been without its critics. Concerns have been raised about the pace of AI development and the direction of the company’s research, with some former employees echoing these sentiments in the months following the November crisis.
The AI market has become increasingly competitive, with companies like Anthropic emerging as significant players in the field. Anthropic’s focus on AI safety and alignment has attracted not only Schulman but also other former OpenAI employees, such as Jan Leike, who left in May 2023 and subsequently criticized OpenAI’s approach to safety measures.
As the AI industry continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, the movement of key personnel between companies is likely to have far-reaching implications for the development and direction of AI technologies. Schulman’s move to Anthropic may signal a shift in the balance of expertise and could potentially accelerate advancements in AI alignment research.
OpenAI, for its part, has responded graciously to Schulman’s departure, expressing gratitude for his contributions and acknowledging the foundation he has helped establish for future innovations in the field. The company faces the challenge of maintaining its momentum and leadership position in AI development while addressing concerns about safety and responsible innovation.
It’s on!
As the dust settles on this latest transition, the AI community will be watching closely to see how both OpenAI and Anthropic evolve in the coming months. The movement of talent between these companies not only highlights the competitive nature of the AI sector but also underscores the critical importance of alignment research in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
With the stakes higher than ever, the race to develop safe and beneficial AI systems continues, driven by the brilliant minds that navigate between the industry’s leading organizations.
Not to mention Elon Musk has also drawn his sword against OpenAI, the upcoming days of the tech giant will not be a walk on a sunny day.
Featured image credit: Emre Çıtak/Bing Image Creator
