Senior OpenAI executive Brad Lightcap said on Tuesday he would leave the company to start a new venture, as the ChatGPT maker gears up to go public amid growing ‌AI demand.

"Over ⁠the ⁠last few months, I've been focused on ​the next horizon and what would stand in the ​way of mission success. I believe there are a few important new things ​the world will need ⁠to get ‌right as we enter ​this next ​period," Lightcap said in a ⁠post on X.

Lightcap moved in April from his role as OpenAI's chief operating officer to a role focused on leading special projects. He previously worked with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman at venture capital firm Y Combinator ‌and joined OpenAI in 2018.

Lightcap's departure follows a similar announcement from Fidji Simo, OpenAI's CEO ⁠of AGI deployment, who said in July she would step down from her full-time role and pivot to a part-time advisory position at the ChatGPT maker, following an extended medical leave for a neuroimmune condition.