OpenAI has named Fidji Simo, former CEO of Instacart and a key leader behind Facebook’s growth, as its new CEO of Applications. Starting immediately, Simo will oversee turning OpenAI’s cutting-edge AI research into real-world products, reporting directly to CEO Sam Altman.

　Simo, 39, built her reputation at Meta (2011–2021), where she spearheaded Facebook’s video features like Live and Watch, and later led Instacart through its 2023 IPO. Altman called her "the only person qualified" for the role, citing her knack for scaling tech innovations—like OpenAI’s push to put AI tools in billions of hands.

　The hire signals OpenAI’s aggressive shift from research lab to AI product giant. Simo will manage teams handling product development, business operations, and global expansion, while Altman focuses on core research and safety.

　“Joining OpenAI now is both an honor and a responsibility,” Simo said in a statement, vowing to shape AI apps that “serve the public good.”

　The move follows OpenAI’s recent restructuring as a nonprofit and hints at ambitions to rival Google and Meta in consumer AI. No dollar figures were disclosed, but insiders say Simo’s hiring turbocharges OpenAI’s bid to dominate everyday AI—from chatbots to who-knows-what’s-next.