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An Engineer’s Diary Reveals the Human Cost of Building OpenAI’s Next Big Thing
Behind the seemingly magical abilities of OpenAI’s technology lies a story of intense human effort and immense personal sacrifice. In a candid reflection posted on July 15, former top engineer Calvin French-Owen shares his perspective on the company’s high-stakes culture.
French-Owen, who has since left OpenAI for a fresh start, highlights a product launch that was “unquestionably one of the highlights of my career” but also the “hardest I’ve worked in nearly a decade.”
A seasoned tech leader who co-founded data company Segment, French-Owen’s profile on LinkedIn reveals his experience and understanding of the demands of the industry. Yet, even he was struck by the intensity of the sprint to build and launch Codex, an ambitious AI agent designed to write and edit software.
The project went from the first line of code to a full public launch in a breathtaking seven weeks. “Most nights were up until 11 or midnight,” French-Owen shared. “Waking up to a newborn at home, heading back to the office again at 7a, working most weekends.”
French-Owen’s account provides a sobering and essential look at the human engine powering the AI revolution. It reveals that behind every seamless AI response lies a team of brilliant people who have likely pushed themselves to the absolute limit.
The article is available here: https://link-gizmodo-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/link-gizmodo-com/2025/07/an-engineers-diary-reveals-the-human-cost-of-building-op
Source: gizmodo.com
