Instacart CEO Fidji Simo Joins OpenAI - Latest News

Fidji Simo Appointed OpenAI Applications CEO

Instacart CEO Fidji Simo is transitioning to OpenAI, where she will assume the role of CEO of Applications, as announced by the ChatGPT developer on Thursday.

Currently serving on OpenAI’s board of directors, Simo will depart from Instacart in the coming months to dedicate herself fully to her new position at the AI firm later this year.

Leadership Structure at OpenAI

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed he will remain in his current capacity, continuing to oversee key areas such as research, computing infrastructure, and application development.

Simo will report directly to Altman within this organizational structure.

Expanding OpenAI's Reach

“The Applications division consolidates teams currently focused on delivering our research to the world and maximizing its impact,” Altman explained in a blog post.

“Fidji possesses a unique skillset to lead this effort, having already made significant contributions as a board member over the past year.”

Scaling Operations and Key Reports

Beyond application development, Simo will also be instrumental in expanding OpenAI’s standard corporate functions.

Details regarding these expansions remain limited, however, reports indicate that COO Brad Lightcap, CFO Sarah Friar, and CPO Kevin Weil will all report to Simo.

Simo’s Extensive Experience

Simo brings a wealth of experience in product management and revenue generation to OpenAI.

Prior to her 2021 appointment at Instacart, she dedicated over ten years to Meta, where she spearheaded the introduction of advertising on the News Feed.

Key Roles at Meta

• Led monetization strategies for the Facebook application.
• Oversaw product development for Facebook Video.
• Played a crucial role in building Meta’s advertising infrastructure.

She left Meta as the head of the Facebook app and successfully guided Instacart through its initial public offering in 2023.

Transition at Instacart

In a statement posted on X, Simo confirmed she will continue to serve as chair of the Instacart board.

She also communicated to Instacart employees that a current member of the leadership team will be appointed as the new CEO, with a formal announcement forthcoming.

A Commitment to Responsible AI

“The opportunity to join OpenAI at this pivotal time is both a privilege and a significant responsibility,” Simo stated.

“This organization has the potential to accelerate human capabilities at an unprecedented rate, and I am fully dedicated to guiding the development of these applications for the benefit of society.”