Former OpenAI leader Durk Kingma joins Anthropic
A push for ethical AI development.
Durk Kingma, one of the lesser-known co-founders of OpenAI, has announced he is joining AI research company Anthropic. Kingma, who will work remotely from the Netherlands, expressed excitement about aligning with Anthropic’s mission to develop AI systems responsibly. However, he did not specify his exact role within the company.
Kingma, with a PhD in machine learning from the University of Amsterdam, played a crucial role in developing generative AI models like DALL-E and ChatGPT during his time at OpenAI. After leaving OpenAI in 2018, he rejoined Google Brain before its merger with DeepMind in 2023, while also working as an angel investor for AI startups.
Kingma’s hiring is part of a broader trend, with several key figures from OpenAI moving to Anthropic in recent months, including safety lead Jan Leike and co-founder John Schulman. Anthropic, led by former OpenAI VP Dario Amodei, continues to attract top talent as it positions itself as a more safety-conscious alternative in the AI industry.
About author
DW Team
The GIP Digital Watch Observatory team, consisting of over 30 digital policy experts from around the world, excels in the fields of research and analysis on digital policy issues. The team is backed by the creative prowess of Creative Lab Diplo and the technical expertise of the Diplo tech team.
