John Schulman departs Anthropic just an year after joining the AI startup

John Schulman, a co-founder of OpenAI, has left his position at the artificial intelligence startup Anthropic, the company confirmed late Wednesday. Schulman’s departure marks a significant change for Anthropic, which has emerged as a key competitor to OpenAI in the rapidly growing AI foundation model sector.

Schulman, who joined Anthropic in August 2023, had previously left OpenAI to focus more deeply on AI alignment and return to hands-on technical work. At the time, his move was seen as part of a broader trend of AI experts and entrepreneurs seeking to shape the future of artificial intelligence in ways that emphasize safety, alignment with human values, and responsible development.

“We are sad to see John go but fully support his decision to pursue new opportunities and wish him all the very best,” Jared Kaplan, Anthropic’s chief science officer, said in a statement to Reuters. The statement reflects the company’s understanding and support for Schulman’s decision despite the loss of a prominent figure in the AI field.

Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI employees including Schulman, has quickly become one of the leading players in AI development. With its annualized revenue estimated at around $875 million, the company competes directly with OpenAI, selling access to its AI models through its own platform and via third-party cloud services, including Amazon Web Services.

While the specific reasons for Schulman’s departure were not immediately disclosed, his exit raises questions about the ongoing dynamics in the highly competitive AI industry. Anthropic, under the leadership of CEO Dario Amodei, has made significant strides in developing AI models that emphasize safety and alignment. The company’s focus on these principles sets it apart from OpenAI, which also faces its own set of ethical and operational challenges as it develops more advanced AI systems.

The Information was the first to report Schulman’s departure, highlighting a shift in the personnel landscape at one of the most well-funded and high-profile AI startups. As AI companies continue to jockey for dominance in an increasingly crowded field, the movements of key individuals like Schulman often signal broader shifts in the industry.

Schulman’s next steps remain unclear, but his exit from Anthropic will undoubtedly be watched closely as the AI field continues to evolve rapidly.