OpenAI’s incoming CEO of applications, Fidji Simo, recently addressed the company’s staff in her first memo, expressing a vision for the transformative potential of AI. She emphasized that the tools being developed have the capacity to "unlock more opportunities for more people than any other technology in history." However, she acknowledged that these opportunities won’t come without effort and collaboration.
Currently, Simo serves as the CEO of Instacart and previously spent ten years at Meta, where she advanced from product manager to head of product for the Facebook app. She will join OpenAI officially in a few weeks and will report directly to CEO Sam Altman. Her main responsibilities will include leading business and operational teams, translating OpenAI’s research into viable products, and establishing strategic business partnerships.
In her memo, Simo discussed the potential impacts of AI on various areas such as knowledge, health, creativity, and economic freedom. She highlighted possibilities like personalized AI tutors and improved health data, as well as efficiencies gained through automation and enhanced emotional support through AI. Simo drew on her own experiences, stating that tools like ChatGPT could make personalized coaching, previously a luxury for few, accessible to many.
Her note outlined a mission not only for her division but also reflected OpenAI’s broader ambitions – to create products that are as integral and personal to users as smartphones or search engines. Simo suggested that AI could democratize access to information, income, and emotional understanding, although the practical realization of these goals remains uncertain.
Moreover, Simo alluded to OpenAI’s aspirations regarding AI as emotional companions. She shared a vision of AI coaches that would be attentive to users’ everyday lives and capable of fostering self-awareness. This ambition aligns with reports of a hardware device in the making, crafted in collaboration with designer Jony Ive, designed to be aware of a user’s environment.
Ultimately, Simo’s memo echoes a tone of optimism typical of OpenAI’s leadership, advocating for the immense potential of AI to enhance personal understanding and growth. Her commitment suggests a future where AI might significantly change how individuals learn about themselves and navigate their lives.
Update: As of July 21, 2025, it has been clarified that Fidji Simo is still serving as the CEO of Instacart and will officially join OpenAI next month.
