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OpenAI Hires Riley Walz for OAI Labs Team

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • Riley Walz has joined OpenAI as a software engineer
  • Walz will work in OAI Labs under Joanne Jang
  • OpenAI spokesperson confirmed the hiring

Riley Walz, recognized for developing online projects that have generated public attention, has been hired by OpenAI. The company confirmed the addition of Walz to its team, marking a new personnel development in the technology sector.

According to OpenAI, Walz will be part of OAI Labs, a group within the company that focuses on creating and testing new tools for human-AI collaboration. The team is led by research leader Joanne Jang and is tasked with inventing and prototyping new interfaces.

Walz has previously developed Jmail, which allowed users to browse public emails released under the Epstein Files Transparency Act using a Gmail-style interface. This project is one of several online initiatives that have contributed to Walz’s reputation for unconventional software engineering work.

Another notable project by Walz was Find My Parking Cops, launched in September 2025. This tool visualized real-time parking enforcement activity in San Francisco, but the data feed was disabled by city officials four hours after its release.

What the numbers show

  • Walz launched Find My Parking Cops in September 2025
  • The data feed for Find My Parking Cops was disabled after four hours
  • OpenAI confirmed the hiring on February 25, 2026

Walz’s online projects, including Jmail and Find My Parking Cops, have led to public debate and controversy. These initiatives have drawn attention to the ways in which data and technology intersect with public policy and transparency.

The confirmation of Walz’s hiring was provided by an OpenAI spokesperson. The company has not disclosed further details about the specific projects Walz will undertake within OAI Labs.

OAI Labs, under the direction of Joanne Jang, is dedicated to exploring new approaches for integrating artificial intelligence into user-facing applications. The addition of Walz is part of ongoing efforts to expand the team’s capabilities in prototyping and interface design.

OpenAI’s decision to bring Walz onto the OAI Labs team reflects a continued focus on developing advanced tools for human-AI interaction. The company regularly updates its personnel and project teams as part of its research and development strategy.

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

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