OpenAI Co-founder John Schulman Joins Rival Anthropic

OpenAI co-founder John Schulman has decided to leave the company. He will join Anthropic, a competitor in the artificial intelligence space, marking a significant moment in the ongoing AI race.

Both companies are striving for leadership in advancing AI technology, making Schulman’s shift a notable event. John Schulman played a crucial role in developing OpenAI’s core projects and will now transition to Anthropic.

Anthropic is an AI safety and research organization known for its emphasis on creating reliable and safe AI systems.

Founded by former OpenAI employees, Anthropic is dedicated to advancing ethical AI development and innovation.

John Schulman has been a key player in OpenAI’s growth since its founding in 2015.

His resignation was recently disclosed by CEO Sam Altman, who expressed sincere gratitude for Schulman’s efforts.

Altman highlighted how Schulman shaped OpenAI’s innovative programs and research endeavors over the years.

He also extended his best wishes for Schulman’s new venture at Anthropic, emphasizing their continued collaboration.

Altman stressed that OpenAI and its former co-founder will still work together on future projects and initiatives.

Thank you for everything you've done for OpenAI! You are a brilliant researcher, a deep thinker about product and society, and mostly, you are a great friend to all of us. We will miss you tremendously and make you proud of this place.

(I first met John in a cafe in Berkeley in…
— Sam Altman (@sama) August 6, 2024

According to the company, Peter Deng, a product manager who led products at Meta, Uber, and Airtable before joining OpenAI last year, also left some time ago.

Brockman’s Extended Leave

In another notable development at OpenAI, Greg Brockman, the company’s president and co-founder, announced that he is taking an extended leave. Brockman’s decision comes after years of leading OpenAI through groundbreaking projects and innovations. His leave is expected to provide him with a much-needed break from the tech industry’s demanding pace.

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

The timing of Brockman’s leave raises questions about leadership transitions within OpenAI as the company navigates its future strategies and goals. However, OpenAI remains confident in its team’s ability to continue its mission of advancing AI safely and effectively.

Also, Schulman wrote on X regarding the decision, stating that he made it in order to devote more time to practical technical work and to the field of AI alignment, which is the study of making sure AI acts as planned.

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

The Ongoing AI Race

Both OpenAI and Anthropic are prominent players in the AI race, each with unique approaches to AI development and safety. Schulman’s move adds an intriguing dynamic to this competition as both organizations strive to shape the future of artificial intelligence.

Anthropic, with its focus on AI alignment and safety, aims to address some of the ethical concerns surrounding AI technology. Schulman’s addition to the team is likely to strengthen these efforts, positioning Anthropic as a leading voice in the responsible development of AI systems.