Thinking Machines Lab Faces Major Leadership Shake-Up
Mira Murati, the CEO of AI startup Thinking Machines Lab, has officially confirmed the departure of her chief technology officer, Barret Zoph. Murati made the announcement through a post on the microblogging platform X, formerly known as Twitter. In her statement, she simply said, "We have parted ways with Barret Zoph." This move signals a significant shift in the company's leadership structure.
New Leadership Takes the Helm
Following Zoph's exit, Murati revealed that Soumith Chintala will step into the role of the new CTO for Thinking Machines Lab. She described Chintala as a brilliant and seasoned leader with over a decade of important contributions to the AI field. Murati emphasized that Chintala has been a major contributor to their team already. The company expressed great excitement about him taking on this new responsibility, highlighting their confidence in his abilities.
Multiple Exits Rock the Startup
Barret Zoph is not the only key figure leaving Thinking Machines Lab. Luke Metz, a co-founder of the company, and Sam Schoenholz are also exiting. All three individuals previously worked at OpenAI before joining the AI firm. Their departures mark a notable brain drain for the startup, which also lost another co-founder, Andrew Tulloch, in November last year. This series of exits poses a major challenge for Thinking Machines Lab as it navigates the competitive AI landscape.
OpenAI Welcomes Back Former Employees
On the other side, OpenAI has warmly welcomed the return of Barret Zoph, Luke Metz, and Sam Schoenholz. Fidji Simo, the CEO of applications at OpenAI, shared a welcome post online. She stated that the move has been in the works for several weeks. Simo expressed excitement about having them rejoin the team, with Zoph reporting directly to her, and Metz and Schoenholz reporting into Zoph. She promised more details on their future focus areas soon.
Conflicting Narratives Emerge
Two different stories have surfaced regarding Barret Zoph's exit from Thinking Machines Lab. According to a Wired report, Fidji Simo sent a memo to OpenAI staff claiming that Zoph was considering leaving and was eventually fired on Wednesday, January 14. Simo noted in the memo that OpenAI does not share the same concerns about Zoph as Thinking Machines Lab CEO Mira Murati.
The second narrative involves allegations of unethical conduct by Zoph. Technology reporter Kylie Robison, quoting a source close to Thinking Machines, reported that Zoph allegedly shared confidential information with competitors. This claim adds a layer of controversy to his departure, suggesting internal disputes over his actions.
Impact on the AI Industry
This personnel shake-up represents a major blow to Thinking Machines Lab, which is losing key talent. Conversely, it serves as a win for OpenAI, which has been facing its own challenges. OpenAI recently dealt with the departure of key executives and the announcement of an Apple-Google Gemini deal to power next-generation Siri. Adding to this, OpenAI VP of research Jerry Tworek recently told staff he is leaving the company and shared his exit note publicly on X. Phil Chen, a Member of Technical Staff at OpenAI, also announced that today is his last day at the company.
The movement of top AI talent between startups and established firms like OpenAI highlights the intense competition and rapid changes in the artificial intelligence sector. As companies vie for leadership, such shifts could influence future innovations and market dynamics.
