OpenAI is snapping up product testing startup Statsig for $1.1 billion in an all-stock deal. The acquisition, one of OpenAI’s largest to date, folds Statsig’s experimentation platform into OpenAI’s growing Applications team.
Statsig CEO Vijaye Raji joins OpenAI as CTO of Applications, reporting to Fidji Simo, the new head of OpenAI’s Applications business who started just weeks ago. Raji will lead product engineering for ChatGPT, Codex, and upcoming OpenAI apps.
OpenAI is also reshuffling its leadership. Chief Product Officer Kevin Weil moves to VP of a freshly minted group, OpenAI for Science. Weil aims to build “an AI-powered platform that accelerates scientific discovery” working closely with researcher Sebastien Bubeck. 
Meanwhile, Srinivas Narayanan, OpenAI’s current head of engineering, switches to CTO of B2B Applications. He’ll coordinate with COO Brad Lightcap to handle enterprise clients.
The deal still needs regulatory approval. Statsig will keep operating independently out of its Seattle office but all employees will join OpenAI once closed.
Kevin Weil announced the new OpenAI for Science group:
“I’m able to do this because the product and design leaders at OpenAI are amazing, and now are complemented by Fidji Simo beginning her role as CEO of Applications.”
“OpenAI’s products have been my life since I joined, and they’re in great hands.”
Srinivas Narayanan shared his role change on LinkedIn, emphasizing his focus on B2B collaboration.
The acquisition strengthens OpenAI’s push into building and refining AI-powered apps with rigorous product testing baked in. Statsig’s tools will speed up feature rollouts and experiments for the ChatGPT maker’s suite of tools.
