• Fidji Simo will join OpenAI as the chief of applications later this year.
• She will maintain her position as Chair of Instacart’s Board during the transition.
• Sam Altman announced her hiring, emphasizing her unique qualifications for the role.
• This move allows Altman to focus more on research, compute, and safety at OpenAI.
• Instacart is expected to name a new CEO soon, with Simo aiding in the transition.

Fidji Simo, currently the CEO of Instacart, is set to join OpenAI as its new chief of applications, a move confirmed by CEO Sam Altman. Simo's transition is expected to take place later this year, while she will continue to serve as Chair of Instacart's Board during the leadership shift at her current company, which is in the process of appointing a new CEO, according to Channel News Asia and Business Insider.

Altman expressed confidence in Simo's capability to lead a group of existing business and operational teams at OpenAI, stating, "Fidji is uniquely qualified to lead this group." This restructuring allows Altman to increase his focus on research, compute, and safety, all critical areas as the firm approaches superintelligence, as detailed by India Times and India Times.

Simo has a robust background in technology, having previously led product initiatives at Meta and created significant impacts within Instacart since her appointment as CEO in August 2021. Her commitment to ensuring technology benefits everyone aligns with OpenAI's mission, as she stated, "Joining OpenAI at this critical moment is an incredible privilege and responsibility," according to Channel News Asia and Business Insider.