OpenAI’s chief scientist and co-founder, Ilya Sutskever, who played a pivotal role in the brief yet dramatic exit of CEO Sam Altman last November, has decided it’s time for his own curtain call. On Tuesday, Sam Altman announced his departure from the company.
“After almost a decade, I have decided to leave OpenAI,” Sutskever shared on social media. “I am thrilled about what lies ahead—a deeply personal project that I will reveal more about in due course.”
Sutskever was at the heart of last year’s management rollercoaster, where Altman was fired and then rehired, which only seemed to solidify Altman’s leadership in the booming AI industry.
Sam Altman’s announcement came just a day after OpenAI showcased its latest AI marvel, GPT-4o, leaving tech enthusiasts wide-eyed and eager for more.
Jakub Pachocki, formerly OpenAI’s director of research, will be stepping into Sutskever’s sizeable shoes, according to the company.
Six months ago, Sutskever made headlines by voting to oust Altman as CEO and board chairman, citing concerns that Altman was propelling AI technology “too far, too fast.” However, after the dust settled and perhaps a few sleepless nights, Sutskever had a change of heart. He signed an employee letter demanding the entire board’s resignation and Altman’s reinstatement.
Altman wasn’t out in the cold for long. Just five days after his firing, he returned as CEO, and Sutskever publicly apologized for his role in the upheaval.
“I deeply regret my participation in the board’s actions,” Sutskever wrote on X (formerly Twitter) in November. “I never intended to harm OpenAI. I cherish everything we’ve created together and will do everything in my power to reunite the company.”
In the months since, OpenAI has kept the innovation train chugging along. The newest model, unveiled Monday, is now available to unpaid users and can transform ChatGPT into a digital personal assistant, capable of engaging in real-time spoken conversations.
Sutskever has been instrumental in OpenAI’s ascent to AI stardom. In 2019, Altman, Sutskever, and Greg Brockman established OpenAI LP, a for-profit entity within the larger nonprofit organization. A few years later, the company achieved a stunning billion valuation.
So, while Sutskever embarks on his next adventure, OpenAI marches forward, continuing to shape the future of artificial intelligence.
