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One of OpenAI's most influential leaders is stepping away.
OpenAI executive Fidji Simo announced she is leaving her full-time leadership role and will become a part-time advisor after deciding to focus on recovering from a chronic illness.
Simo shared the news in a post on X, revealing that a recent medical leave made it clear that her recovery would take longer than she had expected.
"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. "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."
She added that stepping back was a difficult decision because she had repeatedly chosen work over her health. "When I went on leave, many people told me I was courageous for prioritizing my health," Simo said. "The truth is that I am only making this decision now because I failed to make it many times before."
Leadership Responsibilities Shift
According to The Wall Street Journal, Simo informed employees that her responsibilities will now be divided among OpenAI President Greg Brockman, Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar, and Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon. Chief Revenue Officer Denise Dresser will report to Brockman.
Simo joined OpenAI in 2025 after serving as CEO of Instacart and previously holding senior leadership roles at Meta. CEO Sam Altman recruited her to oversee the company's product and business organizations, allowing him to focus more heavily on AI research and infrastructure.
During her tenure, Simo helped guide OpenAI's consumer products, including efforts to expand ChatGPT and newer initiatives such as health-focused features and the company's recently launched AI "superapp," according to The Journal.
Health remains central to her mission
Although stepping away from day-to-day leadership, Simo assured her commitment to OpenAI's broader mission.
Drawing on her own experience navigating years of medical appointments, treatments, insurance issues, and uncertainty, she said that artificial intelligence has the potential to solve meaningful real-world problems.
"More than ever, I believe that some of the most important opportunities for AI lie in helping people solve real problems in their daily lives: their health, their finances, their time and the everyday burdens that shape human experience," Simo wrote.
She also believes that curing disease is the most important thing AI could accomplish, and plans to continue supporting that goal through OpenAI, Chronicle Bio, and CODA.
What this means for OpenAI
Simo's exit removes one of OpenAI's most senior executives at a pivotal time. The company is rolling out major new AI products, expanding its business offerings, and competing aggressively with Anthropic for enterprise customers.
Splitting her responsibilities among several executives may provide continuity, but it also means OpenAI loses a leader who was hired to streamline operations and drive product growth. The company will now need to demonstrate that its broader leadership team can sustain momentum as it pursues its long-term business ambitions.
Also read: OpenAI’s Atlas browser shutdown raised questions about how quickly the company is reshaping its consumer AI products.