OpenAI Appoints Instacart CEO Fidji Simo to Lead New Applications Division

ChatGPT maker OpenAI has announced the appointment of Fidji Simo, current CEO of Instacart, as its first-ever CEO of Applications. 

Simo took to X to share this news: “So excited to be joining OpenAI and contributing to its mission,” she said, thanking Sam Altman for the opportunity. “It will be such a privilege to work with such a talented team on one of the most important and ambitious endeavors in history.” 

She also said she’s moving because of her strong passion for AI and its potential to help cure diseases.

Simo, who has been a member of OpenAI’s board for the past year, will now report directly to Altman. Although Altman remains at the helm of the organisation, he explained that this appointment will enable him to focus more on research, infrastructure, and safety, which are areas he considers crucial as OpenAI advances towards the creation of superintelligence.

At the same time, OpenAI is making a foundational change to its corporate structure by converting its for-profit arm into a public benefit corporation (PBC).

Originally established as a nonprofit, OpenAI has maintained a distinctive governance structure since its founding. In 2019, it created a for-profit limited liability company (LLC) under the control of the nonprofit to draw investment while limiting returns. This LLC is now being transitioned into a PBC—a shift the company believes is more in line with its mission and the changing landscape of artificial intelligence.

In line with its global ambitions, the company also launched a new initiative called OpenAI for Countries, supporting national governments in building AI infrastructure aligned with democratic principles. The initiative is part of the broader Stargate project, a collaboration with Oracle and SoftBank, first announced in January alongside President Donald Trump.