OpenAI has announced the appointment of Vijaye Raji, an Indian-origin engineer from Puducherry, as its new Chief Technology Officer of Applications. The move highlights the company’s growing focus on scaling artificial intelligence into practical, consumer-facing products at a time when competition in the global AI market is intensifying.
Raji, who began his career as a software engineer at Microsoft before joining Facebook in its early years, brings over two decades of experience in building large-scale technology platforms. At Facebook, he spent more than a decade shaping the company’s advertising and commerce infrastructure, including systems that allowed businesses of all sizes to use digital platforms for growth. He later founded Statsig, a product experimentation startup, which helped enterprises run large-scale A/B tests and measure the impact of new features. The venture gained traction among global technology companies seeking faster and more reliable decision-making tools.
In his new role, Raji will lead OpenAI’s applications division, which oversees widely used platforms such as ChatGPT, enterprise integrations, and other AI-driven tools. The division plays a critical role in translating advanced research into products that can be adopted by businesses, educators, and individuals across markets. Analysts believe this appointment underscores OpenAI’s strategy of balancing breakthrough research with product delivery, ensuring its tools remain accessible and relevant.
The appointment also reflects a broader trend of Indian-origin executives taking leadership positions in global technology firms. Industry leaders like Sundar Pichai at Google, Satya Nadella at Microsoft, and Arvind Krishna at IBM have already set precedents. With OpenAI increasingly seen as one of the most influential companies shaping the future of AI, Raji’s leadership adds to this global narrative.
OpenAI’s applications have seen rapid adoption. ChatGPT alone has reached millions of users worldwide within months of launch, with enterprise interest surging in sectors ranging from customer service to education. According to industry estimates, the global AI applications market is projected to grow significantly, with PwC predicting AI could add up to 15.7 trillion US dollars to the global economy by 2030. The ability to convert research breakthroughs into scalable applications is expected to be a key driver of this growth.
Raji’s appointment comes at a time when OpenAI is expanding its footprint internationally, including partnerships in India. Education programs have been identified as a major focus, with generative AI being used to enhance learning outcomes, build personalised study plans, and improve accessibility for students across languages and regions. The company has also been exploring collaborations with businesses to embed AI within enterprise workflows, including customer support and data analysis.
Industry watchers believe the new CTO of Applications will face both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, there is growing demand for AI tools that enhance productivity, learning, and communication. On the other, regulators across the United States, Europe, and Asia are increasingly scrutinising how generative AI systems are deployed, especially in areas concerning privacy, bias, and safety. Balancing innovation with compliance is expected to be central to Raji’s role.
Commenting on his appointment, Raji has expressed his focus on building AI applications that are both impactful and safe. He has emphasised that AI’s potential lies not just in research but in solving everyday problems for people and organisations. His career trajectory, which combines corporate experience with entrepreneurial insight, is expected to help him drive this balance at OpenAI.
For India, where AI adoption is growing rapidly across education, healthcare, and financial services, Raji’s appointment has symbolic resonance. It highlights the increasing role of Indian-origin talent in shaping the global AI ecosystem, while also reflecting OpenAI’s recognition of India as a key market for AI applications.
As OpenAI continues to compete with companies such as Anthropic, Google DeepMind, and Meta, the ability to deliver trusted, high-quality applications will be crucial. With Raji at the helm of its applications division, OpenAI aims to strengthen its focus on delivering products that meet the dual demands of scale and responsibility.