John Schulman Leaves Anthropic to Join Mira Murati’s Stealth AI Startup

OpenAI co-founder John Schulman has left Anthropic after just five months and is reportedly joining a stealth AI startup led by former OpenAI executive Mira Murati. Schulman, a key figure behind ChatGPT, had initially joined Anthropic in to focus on AI alignment and research but has now moved on to pursue what he described as an “extremely compelling” new opportunity.

Schulman’s Quick Exit from Anthropic

Schulman’s departure from Anthropic, OpenAI’s prominent rival, comes less than half a year after he left OpenAI in August 2024. In a post on X, Schulman reflected on his time at Anthropic, saying:

“Leaving wasn’t easy because I enjoyed the stimulating research environment and the kind and talented people I was working with, but I decided to go with another opportunity that I found extremely compelling.”

He thanked Anthropic leaders Jared Kaplan, Jan Leike, and Dario Amodei for their support, adding that he will share more details about his next steps in the coming weeks.

Joining Mira Murati’s Stealth AI Venture

According to Fortune, Schulman is now set to join Mira Murati’s secretive new AI startup, which has not yet revealed its name or focus. Murati, who left OpenAI in September 2024, has reportedly been building a team of top talent, recruiting from OpenAI, Character AI, and Google DeepMind.

Murati is also said to be in talks to raise over $100 million for the venture. While neither Schulman nor Murati’s startup has commented on his exact role, the hiring of such high-profile talent signals that the firm is positioning itself to be a major player in the AI space.

Meanwhile, OpenAI Continues Rolling Out Features

Despite these leadership shifts, OpenAI continues to roll out new features for ChatGPT. Recent updates include:

• Voice Messages on WhatsApp: ChatGPT users can now send and receive voice messages within WhatsApp.

• ChatGPT Search Without Sign-In: OpenAI has lifted the sign-in requirement for using ChatGPT Search, making the tool more accessible.

• Custom Instructions in Europe: ChatGPT’s updated custom instruction features have been launched for users across Europe, giving them more control over how the AI responds.

What This Means

John Schulman’s rapid departure from Anthropic and move to Mira Murati’s stealth AI startup signals increasing competition in the AI space, with top talent shifting between leading firms. As Murati’s startup continues to recruit from AI powerhouses like OpenAI and Google DeepMind, the industry is poised for new innovations and potential disruptions.

Meanwhile, OpenAI’s steady stream of new features suggests that the company remains focused on expanding ChatGPT’s functionality and accessibility, even as key figures depart. The AI landscape is evolving quickly, and these leadership moves could shape the next wave of breakthroughs in the field.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.