Fidji Simo moves from Instacart to OpenAI applications CEO

Fidji Simo, the current head of Instacart, is set to take on a major new role at artificial intelligence pioneer OpenAI later this year. She is currently a member of OpenAI’s board, but she will soon transition out of her position at Instacart and assume a full time role as Chief Executive Officer of Applications for the ChatGPT creator.

OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman shared that Simo will lead the newly unified applications division, focusing on ensuring that OpenAI’s research provides practical value to people around the world. Simo will report directly to Altman, who affirmed he will keep overseeing research, compute, and applications from the company’s highest level.

Fidji Simo’s Experience and Responsibilities

Simo is expected to help scale traditional business operations for OpenAI, although specifics on these functions have yet to be announced publicly. Several high profile executives at OpenAI, including the company’s chief operating officer, chief financial officer, and chief product officer, are scheduled to report to her once she makes the move.

With extensive experience in technology and digital products, Simo’s background includes transformative years at Meta, where she led the introduction of advertising to the Facebook news feed, managed product strategy for Facebook’s video initiatives, and played an integral role in building the core ad business. She eventually became the head of the Facebook app before joining Instacart in 2021.

During her years at Instacart, Simo steered the grocery delivery startup to its initial public offering in 2023. She shared on social media that she intends to maintain her position as board chair at Instacart after stepping down as CEO.

Simo assured Instacart employees that a member of the existing leadership team will become the next CEO, with a formal announcement coming soon. In a statement, Fidji Simo described her OpenAI appointment as a significant opportunity to help guide technology that advances human capability at an unprecedented speed.

She emphasized her commitment to directing these advancements for the wider public good and shaping impactful AI driven applications. OpenAI’s Application division, under Simo’s incoming leadership, is poised to play a vital role in the company’s next chapter as it looks to further influence both business and society.