On July 8, 2026 (Beijing Time), Joshua Achiam, the Head Futurist at OpenAI—a leading large model company—announced in a post that he would be leaving the company at the end of the month, bringing an end to a nearly nine-year tenure. Unlike the Chief Scientist, whose role centers on model and algorithm development, the Head Futurist is primarily concerned with the long-term societal, policy, safety, and broader implications of AI. Achiam explained that his decision to leave was the result of extensive deliberation. He expressed his firm belief that the potential of AI is now widely acknowledged, and that he can continue to promote the mission of AI for the betterment of humanity even outside a top research institution. He stressed that humanity is moving toward a future that is peaceful, prosperous, and full of endless possibilities, and that, whatever his next move may be, he will remain dedicated to realizing this vision. Achiam’s departure is another instance in the recent trend of resignations from OpenAI’s safety-focused team, following the loss of several key figures, including former Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever. Industry analysts suggest that OpenAI is now fully embracing commercialization, with its original ethos of “non-profit and technology safety first” being gradually overshadowed by the pressures of commercial competition.