Brad Lightcap, OpenAI’s chief operating officer and one of its longest-serving executives, is leaving the company to start a new venture, according to reports from The New York Times and TechCrunch. Lightcap, described by the Times as a “longtime leader” at the artificial intelligence company, announced his departure as he pursues new opportunities.
According to TechCrunch, Lightcap told staff he was “excited to help you all advance the mission from a different vantage point,” suggesting he may remain supportive of OpenAI’s goals from outside the organization. The Times noted that his exit represents “the latest in a series” of departures from the company, indicating a broader pattern of leadership changes at OpenAI.
Lightcap’s tenure as COO made him one of OpenAI’s most senior executives, though neither report specified the exact duration of his time with the company or details about his planned new venture. His departure adds to the growing list of high-profile exits from the organization behind ChatGPT and other generative AI products.