NewsGlobalInstagram Co-founder Mike Krieger Steps Down as CPO to Lead Anthropic's AI Incubator LabsInstagram Co-founder Mike Krieger Steps Down as CPO to Lead Anthropic's AI Incubator Labs
Anthropic announced a major leadership restructuring on January 14, with Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger stepping down as CPO to co-lead the AI incubator Labs alongside Ben Mann. Ami Vora will take over product leadership, working with CTO Rahul Patil to scale Claude products. The dual-track structure balances experimentation with reliability, building on successes like the Model Context Protocol with 100 million monthly downloads.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Anthropic has implemented a major leadership restructuring as it expands its internal AI incubator, reflecting the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and its impact on product development strategies. The changes, announced on January 14, position the company to better navigate the evolving AI landscape through a dual-track organizational approach.
Leadership Transition at Senior Level
Mike Krieger, Instagram co-founder and Anthropic's Chief Product Officer for the past two years, will step away from his C-suite role to co-lead Labs alongside Ben Mann, the company's product engineering lead. Krieger will report directly to Anthropic President Daniela Amodei and assume the title of member of technical staff.
| Role Transition: | Details |
|---|---|
| Previous Position: | Chief Product Officer |
| New Role: | Co-leader of Labs |
| Reporting Structure: | Reports to President Daniela Amodei |
| New Title: | Member of Technical Staff |
| Co-leader: | Ben Mann, Product Engineering Lead |
Labs Incubator Expansion
The expanded Labs unit will serve as Anthropic's central hub for incubating experimental products built at the frontier of Claude model capabilities. The division will focus on three key areas: early-stage exploration, testing unpolished tools with select users, and scaling successful ideas into reliable products.
"The speed of advancement in AI demands a different approach to how we build, how we organise, and where we focus. Labs gives us room to break the mold and explore," stated President Daniela Amodei.
Product Organization Restructuring
Ami Vora, who joined Anthropic in late 2025, will assume responsibility for the Product organization. She will collaborate closely with Chief Technology Officer Rahul Patil to scale Claude-related products across both enterprise and consumer use cases.
This dual-track structure is designed to balance experimentation with reliability. The approach has previously yielded successful products including Claude Code and the Model Context Protocol (MCP), which has reached approximately 100 million monthly downloads.
Strategic Vision and Industry Impact
Krieger emphasized that the decision reflects a critical juncture for the AI industry. "We've reached a watershed moment in AI—model capabilities are advancing so fast that the window to shape how they're used is now. That's why I'm getting back into builder mode, moving from my role as CPO and joining our Labs team," he explained.
| Key Achievements: | Metrics |
|---|---|
| Model Context Protocol Downloads: | ~100 million monthly |
| Previous Lab Products: | Claude Code, MCP |
| Organizational Focus: | Experimentation + Reliability |
The restructuring positions Anthropic to maintain its competitive edge in AI safety and research while fostering innovation through dedicated experimental channels. Krieger expressed enthusiasm about returning to hands-on development, stating his desire to build products that channel AI toward solving complex global challenges while supporting Vora's leadership in scaling Claude's capabilities.
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