OpenAI chief futurist Joshua Achiam is leaving later this month

In short: OpenAI’s chief futurist, Joshua Achiam, told colleagues he is leaving the company later this month after nearly nine years.

What happened

Joshua Achiam notified OpenAI staff on Tuesday that he plans to depart later this month, according to WIRED. In a note to colleagues, he said he was not leaving for any single specific reason, and that it was something he had been considering for a while.

At OpenAI, Achiam’s work sat between the company’s AI safety and policy teams. In simple terms, that meant looking at what could go wrong or right as AI tools get more powerful, and helping shape rules and standards for how they should be used. He also worked with senior leaders, including OpenAI’s global affairs chief Chris Lehane, on calls for government regulation aligned with OpenAI’s stated mission.

OpenAI has not announced whether someone will replace Achiam in the chief futurist role. His departure follows recent internal reshuffling. OpenAI formed a “mission alignment team” led by Achiam in 2024, then disbanded it in February and moved him into the chief futurist position.

Achiam is also known for a moment mentioned in the Musk v. Altman trial, where he testified that he interrupted Elon Musk’s farewell speech in 2018 to raise concerns about safety.

Why it matters

OpenAI’s products, like ChatGPT, affect millions of people, from students to office workers. When a senior person focused on safety and long-term planning leaves, it can change how a company balances speed and caution, similar to a car losing a driver who focuses on braking and road rules as well as getting to the destination.

Source: Wired