Ilya Sutskever, Chief Scientist and Cofounder of OpenAI, Steps Down

OpenAI Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever Officially Leaves Company, Co-Lead Resigns

After nearly a decade at the helm of OpenAI, Chief Scientist and co-founder Ilya Sutskever has officially announced his departure from the AI giant. This news comes just six months after Sutskever was involved in an attempt to oust CEO Sam Altman, only to later change his mind.

In a statement posted on X, Sutskever expressed confidence in OpenAI’s ability to build “safe and beneficial” AI under Altman’s leadership. He shared a picture alongside Altman and other OpenAI leaders, highlighting their collaborative efforts.

Sutskever played a crucial role in overseeing the superalignment team at OpenAI, which focuses on ensuring that AI aligns with human values as its capabilities expand. However, his co-lead on the project, Jan Leike, also resigned shortly after Sutskever’s departure announcement.

The departure of Sutskever and other members of the superalignment team follows a tumultuous period at OpenAI, during which Sutskever and other board members attempted to fire Altman over communication issues. Despite the initial attempt, Sutskever later backtracked, and Altman remained in his position.

Jakub Pachocki, previously OpenAI’s director of research, will now take over as chief scientist. Pachocki, who had previously resigned in solidarity with Altman, returned to the company following Altman’s reinstatement.

Both Altman and Pachocki praised Sutskever’s contributions to the field of AI, with Altman describing him as “one of the greatest minds of our generation.” Sutskever expressed excitement for his next project, promising to share details in the future.

As OpenAI moves forward with new AI models and tools, the departure of Sutskever marks a significant transition for the company and the field of artificial intelligence.