SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — Fidji Simo, one of OpenAI’s top executives, will leave her full-time role after taking medical leave earlier this year because of a chronic illness. She announced on July 9 that she will become a part-time adviser while focusing on her recovery.

Simo shared the news in a lengthy LinkedIn post. She said a severe flare-up of a chronic illness forced her to take medical leave three months ago. During that time, she realized her recovery would take much longer than she first expected. As a result, she decided to step away from her day-to-day responsibilities.

“I needed to focus on it fully,” Simo wrote. She also said she had delayed deciding despite years of advice from doctors, friends, colleagues, and family members. Looking back, she admitted she often chose work over her health because she believed every opportunity should be embraced without hesitation.

Simo joined OpenAI in 2025 to lead the company’s applications business. She reported directly to Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman and later became CEO of AGI Deployment. In that role, she oversaw product strategy, business operations, and OpenAI’s efforts to expand revenue beyond ChatGPT subscriptions. She also led the company’s early work in digital advertising, which became an important part of its business strategy.

Before joining OpenAI, Simo served as CEO of Instacart and helped lead the grocery delivery company through its public listing. Earlier in her career, she spent more than a decade at Meta, where she held several senior leadership positions.

Simo revealed that she has lived with a chronic illness for seven years. She was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, commonly known as POTS, in 2019. The condition affects the body’s ability to regulate blood flow and heart rate, often causing dizziness, fatigue, and other symptoms that can disrupt daily life.

She took medical leave from OpenAI in April 2026. During her absence, OpenAI President Greg Brockman assumed responsibility for product leadership. Even so, Simo said her experience as a patient strengthened her belief that artificial intelligence can improve people’s lives.

She explained that years of doctor visits, treatments, insurance issues, and uncertainty showed her how difficult healthcare can be, even for people with strong resources. Therefore, she believes AI should focus on solving practical problems that affect everyday life. She pointed to healthcare, finances, and time management as areas where technology can make a meaningful difference.

Simo also said curing disease remains one of the most important goals for artificial intelligence. Although she is leaving her full-time position, she plans to continue supporting OpenAI as a part-time adviser. In addition, she will keep working with Chronicle Bio and CODA Research on projects aimed at advancing medical research.

She thanked Altman, OpenAI President Greg Brockman and the company’s board for supporting her decision. She also expressed gratitude to her team and colleagues for helping build products that she believes can improve lives around the world.

Her departure comes during a period of leadership changes at OpenAI. Earlier this year, former Chief Marketing Officer Kate Rouch stepped away from the company to focus on cancer recovery. Longtime Chief Futurist Joshua Achiam also left the organization in July.

Meanwhile, OpenAI continues to expand its business while facing stronger competition in artificial intelligence. Reports indicate the company confidentially filed paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in June for a potential initial public offering. The filing came about a week after rival Anthropic reportedly submitted its own confidential IPO paperwork.

Industry reports also suggest OpenAI missed some internal revenue targets earlier this year. As a result, the company has increased its focus on coding tools and other commercial products to strengthen future growth. At the same time, competition in the AI market continues to intensify as major companies introduce new models and business services.

Despite stepping away from her executive role, Simo said her confidence in technology has only grown stronger. For now, however, she plans to focus on improving her health. She said that taking care of herself today will allow her to contribute for many years to come while continuing to support efforts that use AI to solve real human challenges.