Aug 11 (Reuters) - Senior OpenAI executive Brad Lightcap said on Tuesday he would leave the company to ‌start a new venture, as the ChatGPT maker ‌gears up to go public amid growing AI demand.

"Over the last ​few months, I've been focused on the next horizon and what would stand in the way of mission success. I believe there are a few important new things the world ‌will need to ⁠get right as we enter this next period," Lightcap said in a post on X.

In ⁠response to Lightcap's post, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he was "excited to work together on what's next."

Lightcap moved in ​April from ​his role as OpenAI's chief ​operating officer to a ‌role focused on leading special projects. He previously worked with Altman at venture capital firm Y Combinator and joined OpenAI in 2018.

OpenAI said that in recent months, Lightcap's responsibilities had already shifted away from the day-to-day management of ‌larger organizations, so the company ​does not expect his departure to ​impact teams.

Lightcap's departure follows ​a similar announcement from Fidji Simo, OpenAI's ‌CEO of AGI deployment, who ​said in July ​she would step down from her full-time role and pivot to a part-time advisory position at the ​ChatGPT maker, following ‌an extended medical leave for a neuroimmune condition.

(Reporting ​by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by ​Tasim Zahid and Shreya Biswas)