OpenAI co-founder John Schulman is transitioning to Anthropic, a rival company focused on artificial intelligence that builds the Claude AI model. I reported on this departure today, with Schulman following fellow co-founder Greg Brockman and product lead Peter Deng out the door. Schulman took to X to state to explain that the move aims to allow him to zero in on AI alignment and engage more directly in technical activities.
Emphasis on AI Alignment
Schulman clarified that his choice was not due to a lack of support for alignment initiatives at OpenAI. He cited a personal drive to examine fresh perspectives and collaborate with individuals especially committed to AI alignment at Anthropic. This decision follows the disbanding of OpenAI's superalignment team, previously spearheaded by Jan Leike and Ilya Sutskever, a few months prior.
I shared the following note with my OpenAI colleagues today:
I've made the difficult decision to leave OpenAI. This choice stems from my desire to deepen my focus on AI alignment, and to start a new chapter of my career where I can return to hands-on technical work. I've decided…
— John Schulman (@johnschulman2) August 6, 2024
Formed in July of the previous year, the Superalignment team was led by Leike and OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever. The team aimed to address the technical challenges of controlling superintelligent AI within four years. It included scientists and engineers from OpenAI's alignment division and researchers from other organizations. Sutskever has also since departed the company and formed his own research lab to promote sage superintelligence.
Concurrent with Schulman's departure, Greg Brockman, president and another co-founder of OpenAI, has announced a sabbatical lasting until year's end. On X, Brockman mentioned it would be his first substantial break since OpenAI's inception nearly a decade ago. He assured the community that efforts to create safe artificial general intelligence (AGI) continue unabated.
