From OpenAI to Worktrace AI A New Chapter in AI Task Automation

Angela Jiang, who once served as product manager at OpenAI and played a role in building the ChatGPT models, has quietly launched a new startup named Worktrace AI focused on automating repetitive tasks inside workplaces. She co-founded it with Deepak Vasisht, a computer science professor, and the firm has already drawn high-profile support from within the OpenAI ecosystem including Mira Murati, Nick Turley, Jason Kwon, and Joanne Jang as well as institutional capital from OpenAI’s own startup fund, 8VC, and Conviction

Worktrace AI is positioning itself as a “task discovery and automation” engine. Its approach is to observe how employees work, detect repetitious steps, and then automate them via AI. It’s a classic enterprise-AI play: less about lofty general intelligence, more about squeezing efficiency gains out of existing human workflows.

From a journalistic lens, a few things jump out

Brand, network, and legitimacy matter Angela Jiang’s OpenAI pedigree gives the startup credibility in Silicon Valley, and backers like Murati amplify that. Venture capital often flows less on idea alone and more on founder track record and insider networks.

Enterprise over consumer The choice to tackle workplace automation rather than consumer AI or large language model development is telling. Worktrace has a clearer path to revenues selling to companies rather than hoping for mass user adoption

Risk of surveillance vs productivity The idea of “observing” employee behavior can provoke privacy concerns. How much visibility will employees tolerate? Will it be framed as empowering or policing? The ethical boundary is delicate

Timing matters This launch comes amid a wave of AI startups founded by former OpenAI veterans, each chasing niches in model tooling, infrastructure, or safety. Worktrace’s niche is narrower, but that focus could be a strength. 

Worktrace AI is a smart pivot into the “AI ops” space where value is more immediate and defensible. If they can deliver measurable cost savings or productivity bumps, it could scale fast. But the interplay between automation and worker trust will be the test. If you like, I can draft a version of this as a press release or internal memo tailored to your audience.