Fidji Simo, the CEO of Instacart, has announced she will join OpenAI as the new CEO of Applications, according to an official statement by Sam Altman. Simo, who has been serving on OpenAI’s board for the past year, will leave Instacart in the coming months and transition to her new role at OpenAI by the end of this year. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, will continue overseeing the company’s research, compute, and applications departments, with Simo directly reporting to him.
Simo is expected to lead a team that handles OpenAI’s business and operational aspects, ensuring that the company’s AI research reaches a broader audience. Her new role at OpenAI builds on her previous experience at Instacart and Meta, where she made significant contributions to product management and monetization. At Meta, Simo was instrumental in launching the News Feed ads and developing Facebook’s advertising business. Following her time at Meta, she took Instacart public in 2023.
SEE MORE: Fastino Secures $17.5M led by Khosla to Train AI on Affordable Gaming GPUs
In her new role at OpenAI, Simo will focus on scaling the company’s operations and exploring traditional company functions, though the specifics have not been fully disclosed. The executive team, including OpenAI’s COO, CFO, and CPO, will report directly to Simo. This leadership change marks a new chapter for OpenAI as it continues to expand its influence in the AI space.
Simo has expressed excitement about her new role, stating that joining OpenAI at this critical juncture is a “privilege and responsibility.” She believes OpenAI has the potential to accelerate human progress at an unprecedented rate, and she is committed to steering the company’s applications to benefit society. Simo will continue as chair of Instacart’s board during her transition, and a new CEO for Instacart will be named soon.
Simo’s experience in scaling companies and navigating complex product ecosystems makes her uniquely qualified to lead OpenAI’s application efforts. With her leadership, OpenAI is poised to continue its growth, ensuring its AI models have a meaningful and lasting impact.
