Andrej Karpathy, a highly regarded research scientist and a founding member of OpenAI, has announced his departure from the prominent AI research organization. This marks the second time Karpathy has left OpenAI, having initially departed to join Tesla in 2017. After leaving Tesla in 2022, he rejoined OpenAI nearly a year ago.
In a tweet, Karpathy clarified that his departure was not triggered by any specific event, issue, or drama. He expressed appreciation for his time at OpenAI, noting the strength of the team, the wonderful people, and the exciting roadmap. His immediate plans involve working on personal projects, and he hinted at the potential direction of these projects for those who have followed his work.
The departure comes amid a dynamic period for OpenAI, with Sam Altman briefly stepping down as CEO and later reinstated in a high-drama week. The company has stated that Karpathy’s responsibilities have been transitioned to another senior researcher, without disclosing the name.
Karpathy, known for his thought-provoking writings on AI and educational videos explaining AI concepts, had described his role at OpenAI as “building kind of a J.A.R.V.I.S at @OpenAI,” alluding to the development of an AI assistant. His departure raises questions about the future trajectory of projects he might have been involved in.
As the AI community speculates on the implications of Karpathy’s exit, his contributions to the field and the developments within OpenAI will be closely observed, reflecting the dynamic nature of the AI research landscape.
