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Senior OpenAI executive Brad Lightcap to leave for new venture

By Thomson Reuters Aug 11, 2026 | 11:41 AM

Aug 11 (Reuters) – Senior OpenAI executive Brad Lightcap said on Tuesday he would leave the company to ​start a new venture, as ‌the ChatGPT maker gears up to go public amid growing AI demand.

“Over the last few months, I’ve been focused on ‌the ​next horizon and what ⁠would stand in ⁠the way of mission success. I believe there are a few important new things the world will need ​to get right as we enter this next period,” Lightcap said ⁠in a post ⁠on X.

Lightcap moved in April ​from his role as OpenAI’s chief operating ​officer to a role focused on ‌leading special projects. He previously worked with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at venture capital firm Y Combinator and ⁠joined OpenAI in 2018.

Lightcap’s departure follows a similar announcement from Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO ⁠of AGI ‌deployment, who said in ⁠July she would step down ​from ‌her full-time role and ​pivot to ⁠a part-time advisory position at the ChatGPT maker, following an extended medical leave for a neuroimmune condition.

(Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by ​Tasim Zahid)