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Fidji Simo steps down from leading OpenAI’s AGI work due to illness
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Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s AGI chief, has stepped down from her full-time role due to a severe chronic illness and will transition to a part-time advisory position. Simo announced her departure on X, stating that her recovery from a neuroimmune condition is taking longer than anticipated. The news marks another significant leadership change at the AI company, which has seen multiple high-profile executives shift roles in recent months.
Simo originally took medical leave in April 2025, shortly after assuming the AGI chief title. She had previously served as CEO of applications at OpenAI. Her condition, a chronic illness she has lived with for seven years, experienced a severe exacerbation, forcing her to prioritize her health over her demanding role.
The leadership shake-up extends beyond Simo. In April, COO Brad Lightcap also stepped down to focus on special projects, and CMO Kate Rouch left for health reasons, planning to return in a narrower capacity. During Simo’s leave, OpenAI president Greg Brockman took charge of product, including the company’s super app initiatives, while other executives handled business operations.
By mid-May, OpenAI underwent a reorganization: Brockman officially led product strategy and scaling across four pillars, including core product, enterprise, consumer, and infrastructure. In a memo, Brockman emphasized that the restructuring aims to unify AI agent development under a single platform, merging ChatGPT and Codex.
Simo’s departure raises questions about OpenAI’s AGI roadmap, as she was a key figure in advancing artificial general intelligence research. Her health issues highlight the personal toll of high-pressure tech roles. In her statement, Simo described the jarring contrast between building the future and managing a disabling disease with no cure.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman expressed sadness over Simo’s departure, thanking her for her contributions on X. The company has not announced a permanent replacement for the AGI chief role, with Brockman likely to oversee AGI-related efforts in the interim.
Looking ahead, Simo plans to focus fully on recovery while remaining a part-time advisor. OpenAI continues to navigate leadership transitions amid its rapid growth, with Brockman steering product strategy toward a unified agentic platform. The company’s AGI ambitions remain undimmed, but the loss of a dedicated leader like Simo may slow progress in the near term.
