OpenAI special project leader Brad Lightcap will step down

Compared to news, OpenAI's special project leader and former chief operating officer (COO) Brad Lightcap is leaving the company soon. Lightcap's internal responsibilities within OpenAI have changed several times over the past year, and its latest position is responsible for “special projects.”

Lightcap has been a long-time member of OpenAI's core management. When the company made executive changes in early 2026, he moved from a COO position to leading special projects, responsible for cross-company matters including complex transactions, strategic investments, etc., and reporting directly to CEO Sam Altman. This departure comes at a time when OpenAI continues to expand its commercial layout and promote corporate business and strategic cooperation. Previously, the company had gone through several rounds of organizational restructuring, including the transfer of some COO responsibilities to other executives.

Brad Lightcap joined OpenAI in 2018 and previously worked at Y Combinator and J.P. Morgan Chase. He was one of the key operations and commercial leaders in OpenAI's transformation from a research institution to a commercial AI company. (The Information)