Fidji Simo has stepped down from her full-time position as OpenAI‘s chief of AGI work to become a part-time advisor, citing illness as the primary reason for the change. This announcement follows her earlier declaration in April that she required a medical leave of absence due to a neuroimmune condition, a situation that previously affected other senior leaders including COO Brad Lightcap and CMO Kate Rouch. Simo originally assumed the AGI chief title after serving as the company’s CEO of applications, marking a significant shift in her responsibilities before this latest reduction in her role.
The departure highlights the physical toll of intense work on senior technology executives, particularly when managing high-stakes projects like artificial general intelligence. It also signals a potential restructuring within OpenAI’s leadership team as the company adjusts its strategy under new management constraints. The move confirms that health considerations can override ambitious timelines, even for leaders at the forefront of AI development.
* Simo previously served as CEO of applications before taking the AGI chief role.
* Brad Lightcap and Kate Rouch also reduced their scopes to prioritise health in April.
* The change occurs shortly after Simo officially accepted the new AGI leadership title.
