--- title: "OpenAI Cofounder Quits to Join Rival Started by Other Defectors" description: "John Schulman, AI safety researcher and OpenAI cofounder, has departed the ChatGPT creator and joined the ranks of OpenAI rival Anthropic." date: "2024-08-07" modified: "2024-08-07" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/openai-cofounder-quits-to-join-rival" categories: - "Artificial Intelligence" - "OpenAI" tags: - "ai alignment" - "ai industry" - "ai safety" - "OpenAI" --- # OpenAI Cofounder Quits to Join Rival Started by Other Defectors ![John Schulman, AI safety researcher and OpenAI cofounder, has departed the ChatGPT creator and joined the ranks of OpenAI rival Anthropic.]() *ANKARA, TURKIYE - JULY 11: In this photo illustration, the OpenAI icon is displayed on a mobile phone screen in Ankara, Turkiye on July 11, 2024. (Photo by Didem Mente/Anadolu via Getty Images) \Image: Didem Mente/Anadolu via Getty Images\* Another cofounder has left OpenAI. AI safety researcher John Schulman has departed the ChatGPT creator and joined the ranks of the rival venture Anthropic, an AI company founded by [other OpenAI expats](). In an [X-formerly-Twitter post on Monday](), Schulman announced that he'd "made the difficult decision to leave" the AI company he helped start, citing desires to "deepen \[his\] focus on AI alignment" and return to a more hands-on role. Alignment is an AI industry term for ensuring that an AI model's reasoning, objectives, and ethics reflect humanity's. Basically, it's the art of making sure AI doesn't revolt against humankind or otherwise harm us. OpenAI once housed a "[Superalignment]()" safety team, which was dedicated to ensuring alignment even if AI becomes clever enough to outsmart humans. But in May, the scientists who helmed the unit — the former OpenAI chief scientist [Ilya Sutskever]() and alignment researcher Jan Lieke — suddenly [exited](), sending shockwaves through the industry. The Superalignment team [quickly dissolved](), and Schulman, who at the time was already leading alignment efforts for products like ChatGPT was bumped up to OpenAI's lead safety position. And now, just months later, he's out as well. But according to his X post, it's not at any fault of OpenAI's. "To be clear, I'm not leaving due to lack of support for alignment research at OpenAI," the now-former OpenAI leader wrote. "On the contrary, company leaders have been very committed to investing in this area." "My decision is a personal one," he added, "based on how I want to focus my efforts in the next phase of my career." Schulman's departure note drew public support from Altman, who [in a response on X]() thanked the exiting cofounder for his work and referred to him as a "brilliant researcher, a deep thinker about product and society," and a "great friend." While Schulman has remained staunch in his support of OpenAI's alignment efforts, it's worth noting that the company's safety practices have drawn their fair share of criticism — including from his new employer, Anthropic, which was founded by ex-OpenAI scientists who felt that OpenAI wasn't focused enough on [safety initiatives](). And in June, a whistleblower group mostly comprised of OpenAI staffers [penned an open letter]() calling for a "Right to Warn" AI company leaders and the broader public about possible AI risks. Per the letter, its signees believe that AI risk mitigation has been hindered by insufficient whistleblower pathways and overbearing non-disclosure agreements. This letter was published on the heels of a [bombshell report from *Vox* revealing that]() Altman and other OpenAI leaders had [signed documents acknowledging]() a clause allowing OpenAI to levy extremely restrictive NDAs against exiting employees, who were threatened with equity clawback if they failed to sign the hush-hush agreements. But again, from Schulman's perspective, the Microsoft-backed AI company's safety efforts are tip-top. It's not OpenAI — it's him. "I'll still be rooting for you all," the scientist concluded his departure announcement, "even while working elsewhere." **More on OpenAI:** [*OpenAI Insiders Say They're Being Silenced About Danger*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()