Thinking Machines Lab’s Co-founders Rejoin OpenAI in Major Leadership Shift
In Focus
- Thinking Machines Lab loses two co-founders to OpenAI
- Former CTO Barret Zoph and co-founder Luke Metz exit
- Soumith Chintala named new CTO to strengthen leadership
- Move highlights fierce competition for top AI researchers
Thinking Machines Lab’s co-founders have left the startup to rejoin OpenAI. Barret Zoph, the company’s former chief technology officer, and co-founder Luke Metz have both returned to OpenAI, along with senior researcher Sam Schoenholz. According to Wired, OpenAI leadership and people familiar with the matter confirmed these developments.
Leadership Changes at Thinking Machines Lab
Despite the departures, company insiders emphasized that Thinking Machines remains focused on its long-term research goals. The leadership changes are seen as part of a broader plan to ensure continuity in the company’s technical development while strengthening OpenAI’s research capabilities.
Minutes after Murati announced Zoph’s departure, Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s head of applications, made it public that Zoph would return to OpenAI. “Excited to welcome Barret Zoph, Luke Metz, and Sam Schoenholz back to OpenAI! This has been in the works for several weeks, and we’re thrilled to have them join the team,” Simo shared on X.
Founding and Initial Progress of the Startup
Founded in early 2025, Mira Murati’s startup Thinking Machines Lab quickly emerged as a high-profile AI venture. Zoph and Metz, both respected AI researchers, left OpenAI alongside Murati to co-found the company. Thinking Machines Lab co-founders leaving the firm creates a significant gap in leadership, given the startup had raised a reported $2 billion seed round, valuing it at an estimated $10–12 billion.
The company has focused on research-driven AI systems, attracting top-tier engineers and scientists from across the industry. Zoph, as CTO, led the company’s technical direction and infrastructure, while Metz guided model research initiatives. Their exits, at such an early stage, mark a pivotal shift for a company still defining its long-term roadmap and scaling its operations.
Departures, Conflicting Accounts, and Leadership Response
Media reports highlighted differing narratives surrounding the departures, particularly regarding Zoph, including unverified claims of internal disagreements. OpenAI stressed that it does not share these concerns and welcomed the returning researchers. The transition was followed by several weeks of internal discussions and reflects OpenAI’s strategic effort to rehire former researchers.
In response, Murati appointed Soumith Chintala as the new CTO of Thinking Machines Lab. Chintala, a prominent AI researcher and co-creator of the PyTorch framework, brings extensive technical expertise and credibility. His appointment is intended to stabilize the company’s technical leadership and reassure investors and employees while reinforcing the startup’s commitment to advanced AI research.
What This Means for the AI Industry
The return of Thinking Machines Lab co-founders to OpenAI highlights the fierce competition for top AI talent. For startups, it exposes the challenges of retaining leadership when large, well-funded labs can attract proven researchers. For the broader tech and B2B ecosystem, these developments reinforce OpenAI’s influence in AI research and the consolidation of elite talent.
