OpenAI loses three senior figures as GPT-Rosalind launches and Science division closes

AIOn the move

20 Apr

Three high-profile exits unfold within days at OpenAI, just as the company launches its first science-focused AI model and reportedly shuts down the division behind it.

Robotic hand holding a transparent circuit-filled cube, representing AI-driven scientific research and the launch of OpenAI's GPT-Rosalind model — ***OpenAI launches GPT-Rosalind, its first frontier AI model built for scientific research, as three senior figures depart and the OpenAI for Science division is reportedly disbanded.***

OpenAI is facing a significant leadership shake-up, with three senior figures announcing their departures within days of each other, even as the company launches GPT-Rosalind, its first frontier AI model built for scientific research.

The exits span product, engineering, and research, and come at a moment when OpenAI's influence on AI in education, science, and enterprise continues to grow.

Kevin Weil exits as OpenAI for Science is disbanded

Kevin Weil, VP of OpenAI for Science, announced his departure on LinkedIn, confirming that the division he led is being decentralized into other research teams. Weil wrote: "Today is my last day at OpenAI, as OpenAI for Science is being decentralized into other research teams. It's been a mind-expanding two years, from Chief Product Officer to joining the research team and starting OpenAI for Science."

Just one day before the departure announcement, Weil had posted about the launch of GPT-Rosalind, describing it as "our first frontier model built for scientific research across biology, drug discovery, and translational medicine." He wrote that the model is trained in chemistry, protein engineering, and genomics, and includes built-in knowledge of databases and tools used by researchers.

GPT-Rosalind is launching through a trusted access deployment structure for qualified customers. Weil also announced a Life Sciences plugin for Codex, available to all users and compatible with both GPT-Rosalind and OpenAI's mainline models.

Sora creator Bill Peebles announces exit

Bill Peebles, Head of Sora at OpenAI, shared his departure in a post on X, describing the experience of building the video generation model as "the honor and adventure of a lifetime." Peebles wrote: "Building Sora zero-to-one with you all has been the honor and adventure of a lifetime."

Peebles reflected on the early skepticism surrounding the project, noting that in July 2023 there was significant doubt that high-fidelity, multi-shot video generation was achievable within a year. He wrote: "We managed to get there 7 months later."

He credited OpenAI's research culture with making the project possible, writing: "Sora was a project that could not have happened anywhere but OpenAI."

Engineering leader Srinivas Narayanan also departs

Srinivas Narayanan, CTO of B2B Applications at OpenAI, also announced his departure, describing his three years at the company as feeling "more like ten." Narayanan led engineering teams responsible for ChatGPT and the OpenAI API, and previously led the Applied Engineering team. He wrote: "We shipped some of the fastest-growing products in history, like ChatGPT and the API, with no real playbook to guide us."

Narayanan said he plans to spend time with family before deciding his next move.

The departures, however, suggest internal restructuring at a company that remains central to how AI tools are being developed, evaluated, and deployed in education and research contexts globally. For institutions and EdTech developers building on OpenAI's infrastructure, the pace of change at the leadership level is worth watching.