From Singapore to Silicon Valley, Jerene Yang Shapes ChatGPT’s Future at OpenAI
From Singapore to Silicon Valley, Jerene Yang Shapes ChatGPT’s Future at OpenAI
According to Channel News Asia, Ms Jerene Yang is a Singaporean who is now leading OpenAI’s Runtime team in San Francisco, overseeing the massive computing engine powering ChatGPT. Channel News Asia states that Yang’s team, made up of 35 AI engineers and experts, is responsible for enabling the training and rollout of new ChatGPT models—making ChatGPT faster, cheaper, and better for users globally.
Channel News Asia reports that Yang, 35, was hired by OpenAI in 2024, and her work directly supports the latest improvements in ChatGPT. With each model upgrade, ChatGPT becomes more capable and empathetic. Channel News Asia notes that while the earliest versions gave basic, list-like responses to questions such as heartbreak, the most recent model responds with nuanced and thoughtful advice, even resembling a supportive friend or therapist. As highlighted by Channel News Asia, this increasingly human-like capability is drawing users into forming friendships and even relationships with ChatGPT, raising new questions about the social consequences.
Channel News Asia details Yang’s journey from growing up in Singapore—enjoying “dragon” playgrounds and favorite hawker food—to studying computer science and mathematics at Carnegie Mellon University in the US, where she was often the only woman in the room. After founding and selling her first startup, IO Turbine, in just over a year, she experienced the challenge of closing her next venture after six years and letting go of 50 employees, which she described as a low point. According to Channel News Asia, Yang then joined Google in 2020 as a software engineer, building a team of 60 and focusing on data storage and AI training infrastructure, before joining OpenAI in 2024.
As Channel News Asia explains, Yang’s work now involves orchestrating ChatGPT’s training across hundreds of thousands of computers, ensuring the system remains resilient even when individual machines fail. Her contributions have shortened the cycle for new ChatGPT models from a year to just a few months.
Channel News Asia reveals that Yang and her team also recently launched Operator, a new AI agent in research preview for Pro users at US$200 (S$255) per month in the US. Operator can handle practical tasks such as filling out forms, ordering groceries, and party planning. For example, Operator can turn a photo of your fridge’s contents into a grocery list, purchase the items, and arrange delivery.
Singapore, Channel News Asia reports, leads the world in per capita ChatGPT usage, with one in four people using it weekly. Yang, proud of Singapore’s tech-savvy culture, also points to the rise of local AI startups. Personally, she uses ChatGPT to handle daily family logistics and cooking, even teaching her son to use the tool for curiosity-driven learning. She sets parental guidelines, instructing ChatGPT to only reply to her son when he uses polite language and reviewing all transcripts.
According to Channel News Asia, Yang sees a future where AI is a “Jarvis-like” assistant, seamlessly integrated across all home devices. Yet Channel News Asia also notes the risks: international reports have raised concerns about users developing alternate realities or signs of psychosis after extended ChatGPT use. OpenAI has responded with mitigation measures, and when asked by Channel News Asia, Yang declined to comment further on these cases.
In her April interview with Channel News Asia, Yang urged Singaporeans not to fear AI, describing it as an “always available sidekick” that augments human creativity and helps free up time for more meaningful pursuits. She describes the Singaporean “lobang” mindset—finding connections or shortcuts—as an advantage in leveraging AI to improve quality of life.
More info here – Have a Story? Address it to the Editor and submit it here
Featured image source CNN
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and from publicly available sources. While we strive for accuracy, we do not make any representations or warranties, express or implied, regarding the completeness, reliability, or validity of the content. This article does not make any direct claims about specific companies, individuals, or organizations. Any references to reports or external sources are for context and do not imply endorsement or verification of any specific allegations. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and seek professional advice before making business decisions. We disclaim any liability for any losses or damages incurred as a result of reliance on the information provided.