In a surprising turn of events, John Schulman, co-founder of OpenAI, 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, adding to the series of changes that have been sweeping through the organization in recent months.
Schulman, who had been a co-leader of OpenAI’s post-training team, played a crucial role in refining AI models for the ChatGPT chatbot and developing a programming interface for third-party developers. Despite only joining OpenAI in 2016 after completing his Ph.D. in computer science from the University of California, Berkeley, Schulman quickly rose through the ranks to head the alignment science division at the company.
In a social media post announcing his departure, Schulman cited his desire to deepen his focus on AI alignment and return to hands-on technical work as the primary reasons behind his decision to leave OpenAI. He explicitly stated that his departure was not due to a lack of support from company leaders, who have been committed to investing in this area.
The departure of Schulman follows the exits of Jan Leike and Ilya Sutskever, leaders of OpenAI’s superalignment team. While Leike joined Anthropic along with Schulman, Sutskever revealed his involvement in starting a new company named Safe Superintelligence Inc. These leadership changes have raised questions about the future direction of OpenAI and its ongoing commitment to AI safety and security.
In response to these departures, OpenAI’s co-founder and CEO, Sam Altman, acknowledged Schulman’s contribution to the company’s early strategy. Altman also addressed the board upheaval that led to his temporary removal as chief executive, which sparked protests among employees and prompted resignations from other board members. The reinstatement of Altman and the addition of new board members signaled a period of transition for OpenAI.
Despite the recent changes and challenges, OpenAI remains dedicated to advancing the field of AI safety. Altman announced that the company is collaborating with the US AI Safety Institute to enhance AI evaluations and ensure the responsible development of future AI models. Additionally, OpenAI plans to allocate 20% of its computing resources to support safety initiatives, reaffirming its commitment to prioritizing ethical considerations in AI research.
The departure of John Schulman from OpenAI marks another significant moment in the company’s evolution. As OpenAI navigates leadership changes and adjusts its strategic priorities, the impact of Schulman’s departure on the organization’s trajectory remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: the field of artificial intelligence continues to evolve rapidly, and the decisions made by key figures like Schulman will shape the future of AI research and development.