Two Thinking Machines Lab Cofounders Are Leaving to Rejoin OpenAI

Steven

Two Thinking Machines Lab Cofounders Are Leaving to Rejoin OpenAI

Summary

Two senior engineers who helped found Thinking Machines — Barret Zoph and Luke Metz — are leaving the startup and rejoining OpenAI, per an internal memo from OpenAI. OpenAI also announced that researcher Sam Schoenholz is returning. The moves follow reports that Zoph was fired by Thinking Machines amid allegations he shared confidential information; OpenAI says it does not share the same concerns. Thinking Machines, founded with former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, has lost several senior staff recently and was last valued at around $12 billion. The hires are framed as a win for OpenAI, which has itself seen recent departures.

Key Points

  • Barret Zoph and Luke Metz are leaving Thinking Machines to rejoin OpenAI; Sam Schoenholz is also returning to OpenAI.
  • Reports say Zoph was fired by Thinking Machines after allegations he shared confidential company information; WIRED could not verify those claims.
  • OpenAI’s applications chief Fidji Simo said Zoph will report to her, with Metz and Schoenholz reporting under Zoph; some role details are still being finalised.
  • Thinking Machines has already lost other senior founders (including Andrew Tulloch) and named Soumith Chintala as its new CTO.
  • The startup — led by Mira Murati and known for the Tinker model-customisation product — was last valued around $12bn and had been in talks for a much larger funding round.
  • The departures are a strategic win for OpenAI as it rebuilds teams after its own recent exits, and they highlight the intense talent movement in the AI industry.

Context and Relevance

Poaching and re-hiring between leading AI labs has become a regular feature of the AI talent market. This story matters because it affects product roadmaps, the balance of expertise between startups and incumbents, and investor confidence in high‑valuation AI ventures. Thinking Machines was positioned as a prominent spin‑out from OpenAI leadership; losing multiple senior figures so soon after its launch raises questions about internal governance, IP protections and the resilience of new AI startups. For OpenAI, these hires shore up experienced engineering capacity during a competitive hiring period across the industry.

Author’s take

Punchy and to the point: this is a notable setback for a high‑profile startup and a clear talent infusion for OpenAI. Given the players involved and the valuations at stake, the details are worth reading if you track AI business moves, talent flows or potential IP disputes.

Why should I read this?

Quick and blunt: if you care about who actually builds the next wave of AI products — and which companies keep the smartest engineers — this is the headline to know. We skimmed the noise, pulled the facts and flagged the implications so you don’t have to dig through rumours. Read it if you want the short version of a story that’s likely to ripple across hiring, funding and product plans in AI.

Source

Source: https://www.wired.com/story/thinking-machines-lab-cofounders-leave-for-openai/