February 26, 2026 — According to international sources, including Business Insider, Vietnamese AI engineer Pham Hy Hieu has officially left OpenAI after his tenure at this world-leading artificial intelligence laboratory.
In a public post on X, he shared that prolonged burnout and serious mental health issues forced him to step away. He described this period as "terrible, scary, and dangerous" for himself.
Before joining OpenAI, Pham Hy Hieu worked at xAI—the AI company founded by Elon Musk. He regarded his time at these advanced AI labs as a "once-in-a-lifetime experience," though the high intensity of the work created immense pressure.
According to the released information, he decided to move his family back to Vietnam to focus on treatment and recovery. He also noted that he would consider new career paths in the future.
OpenAI has not yet provided an official comment on this decision.
The event has garnered significant attention within the tech community, particularly as the global AI industry continues to accelerate with high work demands and fierce competition.
Atlanta Vietnam News will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.
