OpenAI hires Instacart CEO Fidji Simo as CEO of Applications; Sam Altman responds

ChatGPT maker OpenAI has hired Instacart CEO Fidji Simo has the head of applications. Simo will be joining OpenAI later this year and she will directly report to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. In a blog post to employees, Altman revealed that Simo will be joining the company as CEO of Applications. He also clarified that he will continue to be the CEO of Open AI. “Applications brings together a group of existing business and operational teams responsible for how our research reaches and benefits the world, and Fidji is uniquely qualified to lead this group,” said Sam Altman.Open AI has hired Instacart CEO Fidji Simo as the CEO of Applications at OpenAI.The CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman revealed the new to all the employees in a blog post. “so excited thatis joining openai in a new role: ceo of applications, reporting to me. i'll remain ceo of openai, but in this new configuration i'll be able to increase my focus on research, compute, and safety. these are critical as we approach super intelligence,” said Altman.The company also said that in her new role, Fidji will focus on enabling our “traditional” company functions to scale as we enter a next phase of growth. “Fidji brings a rare blend of leadership, product and operational expertise, and genuine commitment to ensuring our technology benefits everyone,” said Altman.Simo serves as the CEO of Instacart, the grocery delivery service. She joined the OpenAI board in March 2024 and has been a Shopify board member since December 2021.Fidji Simo expressed her excitement about joining OpenAI, stating, “Joining OpenAI at this critical moment is an incredible privilege and responsibility. This organization has the potential of accelerating human potential at a pace never seen before and I am deeply committed to shaping these applications toward the public good.