Joanne Jang, a major force behind OpenAI’s Model Behavior team, has some thrilling updates on this front. OAI Labs GM She will be stepping down from her position to assume the role of General Manager of OAI Labs. As this new initiative unfolds, it will dive deeper into inventing and prototyping innovative interfaces for human collaboration with AI. Jang’s transition marks a significant shift in OpenAI’s approach to AI development and research.
In her recent post on X, Jang expressed her enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “I’m starting OAI Labs: a research-driven group focused on inventing and prototyping new interfaces for how people collaborate with AI.” Her goal is to move beyond the classic chat or agent-based interactions to new, creative ways to connect. She is charting a path to new paradigms and instruments for rethinking and remaking.
Jang’s career at OpenAI has been noteworthy. Her contributions to the Model Behavior team were instrumental. This task force has all but determined the character traits of OpenAI’s chatbots. This high-performing team is behind every major model on the eve of this release since GPT-4. Now made up of around 14 researchers, the Model Behavior team has created novel methods for introducing personality traits into AI interactions.
Moving ahead, the Model Behavior team will now report to Max Schwarzer, OpenAI’s Post Training lead. This change aims to bring the team’s work closer to core model development, ensuring that personality integration remains a fundamental aspect of OpenAI’s future initiatives.
Jang’s new role at OAI Labs will see her diving deep into the research areas she previously studied. She’s particularly excited to get to work with world-famous designer Jony Ive. He’s working with OpenAI to create a new class of AI hardware appliances. Together, we can make history by finding new ways to help users connect and engage with all the possibilities that AI has to offer.
Mark Chen has been left to steer these new initiatives in the wake of Jang’s departure. Most importantly, in a recent memo, he underscored the importance of personality in AI development. He didn’t refer to his thoughts directly, but it’s clear that he values Jang’s leadership at OAI Labs. His respect for the creative path that Jang is venturing down is clear.
As someone who’s enthusiastic about exploring patterns outside of traditional conversations and agents, Jang shared her excitement at what they discovered. She dreams of alternative paradigms and processes for imagining and cultivating new ways of engaging and collaborating in the era of AI.
