The Download: meet RFK Jr's right-hand man, and inside OpenAI

When Jim O'Neill was nominated to be the second in command at the US Department of Health and Human Services, longevity enthusiasts were excited. As Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s new right-hand man, O'Neill is expected to wield authority at health agencies that fund biomedical research and oversee the regulation of new drugs. And while O'Neill doesn't subscribe to Kennedy's most contentious beliefs--and supports existing vaccine schedules--he may still steer the agencies in controversial new directions. O'Neill is well-known in the increasingly well-funded and tight-knit longevity community. In speaking with more than 20 people who work in the longevity field and are familiar with O'Neill, it's clear that they share a genuine optimism about his leadership.