OpenAI Appoints Instacart CEO Fidji Simo to Lead Applications Division in Strategic Shift
OpenAI has recruited Fidji Simo, current CEO of Instacart and former head of Facebook’s core app, to spearhead its Applications division. The MOVE coincides with CEO Sam Altman’s strategic pivot toward AGI research, compute infrastructure, and safety protocols—domains he describes as existential priorities as the organization approaches superintelligence thresholds.
Simo will maintain dual roles during the transition, eventually transitioning to Instacart’s board chairmanship. The leadership reshuffle underscores OpenAI’s bifurcated focus: commercializing AI products while accelerating foundational research. Altman’s narrowed operational scope reflects growing industry emphasis on alignment challenges as capabilities advance.