OpenAI has named Fidji Simo, CEO of Instacart and a former Facebook executive, as CEO of its new Applications Division. The move, announced on May 7, 2025, represents OpenAI’s attempt to scale its consumer-facing AI products, such as ChatGPT. Simo, who has been on the OpenAI board since 2023, will oversee product development, user experience, and commercial integration.
Strategic Expansion of OpenAI’s Leadership
OpenAI recently appointed Fidji Simo, current CEO of Instacart, as its new Chief Executive Officer of Applications. Simo, who has been on OpenAI’s board since early 2024, will transition into her new job over the next few months before joining the AI startup full-time later this year. She will report directly to OpenAI’s CEO, Sam Altman. In an official blog post announcement, Altman stated that,
To strengthen our execution, I’m excited to announce Fidji Simo is joining as our CEO of Applications, reporting directly to me. I remain the CEO of OpenAI and will continue to directly oversee success across all pillars of OpenAI – Research, Compute, and Applications – ensuring we stay aligned and integrated across all areas. I will work closely with our board on making sure our non-profit has maximum positive impact.
Altman, who will continue to oversee OpenAI overall, stated that this leadership change will allow him to devote more time to essential areas such as research, safety, and computation. Simo will lead the company’s apps sector, overseeing several important executives who previously reported to Altman, including COO Brad Lightcap, CFO Sarah Friar, and CPO Kevin Weil.
OpenAI has launched a new Applications Division and appointed Fidji Simo as its leader to drive product innovation and operational leadership. This division unifies teams working on ChatGPT, developer APIs, enterprise solutions, and user experience to streamline focus and enhance product integration. Its strategic objective is to accelerate AI technology deployment while maintaining strict standards for safety, ethical responsibility, and long-term societal benefit.
Altman praised Simo’s commitment to OpenAI’s purpose, stating that her work as a board member over the last year made her a logical match for a larger leadership role. He also said that,
Applications brings together a group of existing business and operational teams responsible for how our research reaches and benefits the world, and Fidji is uniquely qualified to lead this group.
A Proven Leader in Technology and Product Development
Simo brings years of experience in scaling technological products and businesses, drawing from her extensive career at Meta (formerly Facebook) and Instacart. She spent over a decade at Meta, where she led the development and monetization of key services such as News Feed ads and Facebook Video. In 2021, she joined Instacart, applying her expertise to guide product strategy and innovation across the platform’s evolving suite of consumer-facing services.
Eventually, she rose to lead the Facebook app, becoming one of the highest-ranking female executives in the company’s history at that time. Her experience scaling technology platforms and directing product innovation is viewed as a major asset by OpenAI, which is looking to increase the accessibility and utility of its AI applications.
Simo shared the news of her joining OpenAI on her X account. She wrote that,
I’ll remain CEO of @Instacart for the next few months and Chair of the board after that; I’m so grateful to my Instacart team for the amazing ride we had together, and I look forward to supporting the next CEO during the transition.
Conclusion
OpenAI, known for building some of the world’s most powerful AI models, including GPT-4 and DALL-E, is entering a new phase of transforming research into real-world applications. With Simo’s appointment, the company is solidifying its commitment to develop and deliver AI technologies that are not only cutting-edge but also scalable and socially responsible.
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