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OpenAI Executive Kevin Weil Departs as Science Division Is Merged

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • Kevin Weil has left his position at OpenAI
  • The OpenAI for Science group is being merged into other teams
  • The Prism team is joining the Codex team led by Thibault Sottiaux

OpenAI has undergone a leadership and organizational change with the departure of Kevin Weil, who previously led the company’s science-focused division and product initiatives.

Weil stated on social media that his last day at OpenAI was the same day the change was reported, and confirmed that the OpenAI for Science group is being decentralized into other research teams rather than continuing as a separate entity.

Before leaving, Weil was responsible for the OpenAI for Science initiative, which included the development of an AI workspace for scientists known as Prism. The Prism web application was introduced in January 2026 to provide researchers with AI-powered tools.

The team behind Prism, consisting of approximately ten people, is being integrated into the Codex team, which is led by Thibault Sottiaux. Codex is described as OpenAI’s AI coding platform and is being positioned as a broader application within the company’s product suite.

What the numbers show

  • Kevin Weil’s last day at OpenAI was April 17, 2026
  • The Prism web app launched in January 2026
  • The Prism team included about 10 members

OpenAI is shifting its business strategy to focus on core enterprise AI products and a planned “superapp.” This change aligns with the recent departures of several executives, including Weil, Bill Peebles, and CTO Srinivas Narayanan.

The OpenAI for Science group, which previously operated as a standalone division, is now being merged into other research teams within the organization. This step is part of a broader internal restructuring.

According to available information, the company’s refocused approach involves consolidating specialized teams and integrating their work into larger product groups. The Codex team, which will now include the former Prism group, is central to this new structure.

OpenAI’s recent organizational adjustments reflect a move to streamline its research and product development efforts, with the intent to align teams under unified leadership and product strategies.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

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