Thursday, July 17, 2025

Inside OpenAI: How Tasks Are Managed Without Email, According to a Former Employee

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Calvin French-Owen, a former technical staff member at OpenAI, recently shared his candid experience of working at the AI giant, revealing a high-pressure, secretive environment. In his blog post, he described a grueling 14 months focused on developing Codex, an AI coding assistant, highlighting the demanding work schedule that often extended late into the night and required weekend commitments. This intense culture reportedly led to widespread burnout, prompting company leadership to consider a break for staff relief. OpenAI’s communication operates almost entirely on Slack rather than email, enhancing the secretive nature of the organization, where teams were often unaware of each other’s projects. Despite the work’s intensity, French-Owen appreciated the autonomy to explore personal ideas quickly. His insights serve as a reality check for aspiring talent in AI, emphasizing the challenges behind groundbreaking advancements, often fueled by overworked teams striving for excellence.

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