OpenAI’s AGI Chief Fidji Simo Steps Down Due to Health Issues

Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s chief of artificial general intelligence (AGI), announced she is stepping down from her full-time role and transitioning to a part-time advisor. The decision follows a medical leave she began in April due to an exacerbation of a chronic neuroimmune condition she has lived with for seven years.

Simo had previously served as OpenAI’s CEO of applications before taking on the AGI chief title. In April, she announced she would take a few weeks of medical leave for her condition. At the same time, OpenAI COO Brad Lightcap stepped down to focus on “special projects,” and CMO Kate Rouch also stepped down to prioritize her health, with plans to return in a more limited capacity.

During Simo’s leave, OpenAI president Greg Brockman took over product leadership, including the company’s super app efforts. In mid-May, a company reorganization saw Brockman officially take charge of product strategy and scaling, leading four pillars: core product and platform; critical enterprise industries; consumer (health, commerce, personal finance); and core infrastructure, ads, data science, and growth.

“Three months ago, I had to go on medical leave after a severe exacerbation of a chronic illness I’ve lived with for seven years,” Simo wrote on X. “During that time, it became clear that the road to recovery would be much longer and more complex than I had anticipated—and that I needed to focus on it fully … It has been a jarring experience to spend my days helping build the future while simultaneously navigating a disabling disease that still has no cure.”

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed sadness and gratitude, writing on X that he was “really sad about this” and thanked Simo for her contributions.