AI Founders Return to OpenAI Amid Startup Shake-up

Less than a year after its founding, Thinking Machines Lab, helmed by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, is experiencing a significant talent drain. Co-founders Barret Zoph (also CTO) and Luke Metz, along with another key staffer, Sam Schoenholz, have departed the startup. These individuals are returning to OpenAI, their former employer, as confirmed by OpenAI's CEO of applications, Fidji Simo. This move marks a notable shift for Murati's venture, which had quickly amassed substantial financial backing.

Zoph had previously served as VP of research at OpenAI, while Metz and Schoenholz were part of OpenAI's technical staff. Murati herself departed OpenAI in September 2024 to co-found Thinking Machines Lab. The startup had secured a $2 billion seed round last July, valuing it at $12 billion, with major investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Accel, and Nvidia. The simultaneous departure of two co-founders, including the CTO, is a significant setback for the company.

Talent mobility is common in the AI sector, but such early departures from a heavily funded startup are particularly noteworthy. Thinking Machines Lab had assembled a high-profile team of researchers from leading AI organizations. This also follows other departures, such as co-founder Andrew Tulloch joining Meta in October. OpenAI has also seen former employees leave to start or join competing ventures, highlighting the dynamic and competitive nature of the AI landscape.