Who left OpenAI in 2026

Diogo Almeida launches TypeSafe AI with Jev decision model

Diogo Almeida → to TypeSafe AI, Chief Executive Officer, from OpenAI

A ChatGPT co-inventor bets that machine-only decision models beat chatbots at scale for automated tasks.

foundingreportedSep 16, 2026Tech Startups: TypeSafe AI, an AI startup founded by ChatGPT co-inventor, emerges from stealth with $40M to build AI that's 100X faster and cheaper

Fidji Simo joins Nscale board as independent director

Fidji Simo → to Nscale, Independent Director, from OpenAI

Simo carries OpenAI product credibility onto Nscale's board as the infrastructure firm heads toward a US IPO, pairing raw compute ambition with a deployment leader fluent in shipping consumer-facing AI.

boardconfirmedSep 11, 2026PR Newswire: Fidji Simo Joins Nscale Board of Directors

Brad Lightcap → to Unannounced Startup as Founder

OpenAI's longest-serving operator steps away to found something of his own, leaving a structural void at the top.

departurereportedAug 11, 2026Quartz: OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap Leaving to Start New Company

Fidji Simo → to ChronicleBio as Co-Founder

Simo trades OpenAI's applications helm for a biotech venture built from her own medical journey.

foundingconfirmedAug 10, 2026Fortune: Fidji Simo on Her Life After OpenAI and New Startup, ChronicleBio

Fidji Simo → to ChronicleBio as Founder

Removed the executive most directly responsible for turning OpenAI's research into consumer revenue, timed awkwardly against IPO preparation.

departureconfirmedJul 9, 2026TechCrunch: Fidji Simo Steps Down From OpenAI's No. 2 Role

Kate Rouch → to unannounced as unannounced

Compounded April's operating leadership loss at OpenAI ahead of Simo's July exit, deepening the pattern CNBC later flagged to investors.

departurereportedApr 1, 2026TechCrunch: Fidji Simo Steps Down From OpenAI's No. 2 Role

Kevin Weil → to unannounced as unannounced

The first of three senior OpenAI operating departures inside a six-month span, preceding the wider exodus narrative.

departurereportedApr 1, 2026TechCrunch: Fidji Simo Steps Down From OpenAI's No. 2 Role

Shengjia Zhao → to Meta as Chief Scientist, Meta Superintelligence Labs

Gave Meta a direct technical line to the model architecture behind OpenAI's flagship product.

hirereportedJun 30, 2025Inc.: Meta Poached Its New Chief Scientist for Superintelligence From OpenAI

Mira Murati → to Thinking Machines Lab as Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Created the founder-scientist lab that later drew John Schulman away from Anthropic and became a magnet for OpenAI alumni.

foundingreportedFeb 6, 2025Fortune: OpenAI cofounder John Schulman is joining Mira Murati's startup after brief stint at Anthropic

John Schulman → to Anthropic as Researcher

Opened a two-hop migration that eventually carried RLHF expertise from OpenAI through Anthropic to Thinking Machines Lab inside ten months.

hirereportedAug 1, 2024Fortune: OpenAI cofounder John Schulman is joining Mira Murati's startup after brief stint at Anthropic

Daniel Levy → to Safe Superintelligence Inc. as Co-Founder

Completed Safe Superintelligence's three-person founding bench alongside Sutskever and Gross.

foundingreportedJun 19, 2024Wikipedia: Safe Superintelligence Inc.

Ilya Sutskever → to Safe Superintelligence Inc. as Co-Founder

Removed OpenAI's most senior technical co-founder and, within a year, produced a $30 billion independent rival.

foundingreportedJun 19, 2024Wikipedia: Safe Superintelligence Inc.

Jan Leike → to Anthropic as Alignment Researcher

Carried core alignment-research expertise out of OpenAI and into Anthropic at the same moment Sutskever was leaving to found SSI.

hirereportedMay 1, 2024Wikipedia: Jan Leike