Return of the Co-Founder: Greg Brockman Rejoins OpenAI
A New Chapter for OpenAI
After a three-month sabbatical, Greg Brockman, co-founder of OpenAI, has returned to the company as president. Brockman announced his return on X, stating that his “longest vacation” had come to an end and that he was “back to building OpenAI.” This move comes on the heels of OpenAI’s latest funding round, which valued the company at a staggering $157 billion.
Executive Exodus and Controversy
During Brockman’s absence, OpenAI faced significant changes, including the departure of several high-ranking executives. Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, research chief Bob McGrew, and research vice president Barret Zoph all announced their departures in late September. This exodus was preceded by the departures of co-founder Ilya Sutskever, former safety leader Jan Leike, and co-founder John Schulman, who all left for rival Anthropic. Most recently, Lilian Weng, OpenAI’s vice president of research and safety, announced her departure after seven years with the company.
A Long-Standing Alliance
Brockman’s return is significant, given his long-standing alliance with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. The two have worked together since OpenAI’s inception in 2015, when Brockman served as chief technology officer and Altman as CEO. When Altman was temporarily ousted last year, Brockman publicly quit and expressed his shock and sadness at the board’s decision.
What’s Next for OpenAI?
With Brockman’s return, OpenAI is poised to move forward amidst controversy surrounding its upcoming conversion to a for-profit structure and the shuttering of certain safety teams. As the company navigates these challenges, Brockman’s leadership will be crucial in shaping OpenAI’s future.
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