The fiercely competitive world of artificial intelligence has once again demonstrated its dynamic nature. Thinking Machines Lab, a high-profile AI startup, recently experienced a significant leadership shake-up. Two of its co-founders, Barret Zoph and Luke Metz, along with key staffer Sam Schoenholz, have departed. This trio is rejoining OpenAI, the very company from which they originally hailed. This sudden shift underscores the ongoing “AI talent wars” that define the cutting-edge tech industry.
Key Departures Reshape AI Landscape
The news unfolded rapidly on January 14, 2026, creating a public spectacle. Thinking Machines Lab, founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, faced an undeniable blow. Losing key personnel, especially co-founders, so early in its journey signals significant challenges. The exodus highlights the intense battle for top AI researchers and engineers.
A Return to OpenAI for Zoph, Metz, and Schoenholz
Barret Zoph, formerly CTO of Thinking Machines, is a prominent figure. He previously served as OpenAI’s VP of post-training. Luke Metz, another co-founder, also contributed significantly to OpenAI projects like ChatGPT. Sam Schoenholz, a staffer at Thinking Machines, similarly had a background with OpenAI. Their collective return to OpenAI marks a strategic win for the established AI giant. This move strengthens OpenAI’s research capabilities and talent pool.
Conflicting Narratives Emerge
The circumstances surrounding Barret Zoph’s departure from Thinking Machines Lab are complex. Two distinct stories quickly surfaced, adding intrigue to the situation. These differing accounts reveal the tension inherent in high-stakes talent transitions. Understanding both perspectives is crucial for grasping the full picture.
The “Firing” vs. “Returning” Debate
Technology reporter Kylie Robison initially reported Zoph was fired by Thinking Machines. The reason cited was “unethical conduct.” A source close to the startup even alleged Zoph shared confidential company information with competitors. However, WIRED could not independently verify these claims.
OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo, presented an alternative account. In an internal memo, Simo stated Zoph informed Mira Murati of his consideration to leave. This happened on a Monday. Zoph was then fired on Wednesday. Crucially, Simo explicitly noted that OpenAI does not share the same concerns about Zoph as Murati. This sequence suggests a potential “you can’t quit, you’re fired!” scenario.
High-Stakes Talent: Profiling the Key Figures
The individuals involved in these Thinking Machines Lab departures are central to the AI sector. Their professional histories illustrate the deep interconnectedness of top AI research organizations. These movements are not just personnel changes; they represent shifts in intellectual capital.
Deep Roots in OpenAI
Mira Murati herself was OpenAI’s CTO until September 2024. She then co-founded Thinking Machines Lab with Zoph and Metz. Zoph spent six years as a research scientist at Google before his initial tenure at OpenAI. There, he led teams refining AI models for products like ChatGPT. Metz contributed to projects like ChatGPT and the o1 AI reasoning model during his two years at OpenAI. Their collective history with OpenAI made their return almost a homecoming. Upon their re-entry, Simo outlined that Zoph would report directly to her. Metz and Schoenholz would then work under Zoph, indicating significant roles.
Thinking Machines: A Startup Under Pressure
Thinking Machines Lab garnered immense attention and capital since its inception. However, the recent Thinking Machines Lab departures represent a significant setback. This event highlights the volatility even well-funded startups can face.
Meteoric Rise Meets Founder Exodus
The startup closed a massive $2 billion seed round last July. This impressive funding round valued the pre-product company at $12 billion. Investors included Andreessen Horowitz, Accel, Nvidia, AMD, and Jane Street. This showcased strong industry belief in Murati’s vision. The company had also attracted top talent from OpenAI, Meta, and Mistral AI. Yet, its appeal seems to have been insufficient to retain all its founding members.
This isn’t the first high-profile departure from Thinking Machines. Co-founder Andrew Tulloch left in October to join Meta. Losing two co-founders, including the CTO, less than a year after launch is particularly notable. It raises questions about the company’s long-term stability and strategic direction.
Strategic Challenges and Funding Hurdles
Reports suggest Thinking Machines Lab has struggled to define a clear business and product strategy. Its sole known offering, Tinker, is an API for fine-tuning open-source AI models. The company has not yet developed a major foundation model, a critical milestone for leading AI firms. Despite ambitious plans to raise funds at a $50 billion to $60 billion valuation, further investment has been difficult to secure. This combination of internal tension and strategic ambiguities contributes to a challenging environment. The potential for further employee exodus, as reported by Alex Heath, could exacerbate these issues.
OpenAI’s Strategic Win in the AI Talent Wars
For OpenAI, the return of Zoph, Metz, and Schoenholz is a considerable victory. It arrives at a time when OpenAI itself experienced the loss of its VP of research, Jerry Tworek. Reacquiring this level of talent consolidates its research strength.
The “Gravity Well” Effect of AI Giants
This event illustrates a powerful “gravity well” effect. Established labs like OpenAI possess vast resources, significant compute power, and existing infrastructure. These advantages can make returning highly attractive to former employees. Even multi-billion-dollar valuations do not guarantee talent retention for startups. OpenAI appears to be actively bringing back researchers who ventured out to start new companies. This strategy reinforces its position as a dominant force in AI development.
The Broader Message: AI Talent Mobility Intensifies
The Thinking Machines Lab departures serve as a stark reminder of the intense competition in the AI sector. Talent mobility is a pervasive issue, affecting companies across the landscape. This extends even to OpenAI, which has seen co-founders depart for ventures like Anthropic.
What This Means for Future AI Ventures
The situation highlights that capital alone is not enough to retain top talent. Startups, regardless of funding, must genuinely compete on resources, vision, and infrastructure. The allure of established labs with proven track records and massive resources remains strong. For investors, this incident emphasizes the risks associated with early-stage AI startups. It underscores the importance of a clear product strategy and strong leadership cohesion. The rapid pace of talent movement is a defining characteristic of this rapidly evolving industry.
What’s Next for Thinking Machines Lab?
The future for Thinking Machines Lab remains somewhat uncertain following these events. The immediate challenge for Mira Murati and her team is to prove the company’s defensible mission. They must demonstrate that the loss of key founders is not a fatal blow.
Soumith Chintala Steps Up as CTO
In response to Zoph’s departure, Mira Murati quickly announced a new Chief Technology Officer. Soumith Chintala, described as a “brilliant and seasoned leader,” has assumed the CTO role. Chintala brings over a decade of contributions to AI to Thinking Machines. This swift appointment suggests confidence in internal talent. However, consecutive departures of founding team members will inevitably raise concerns among investors and potential partners. The company may attempt a new fundraise to counteract the negative narrative. Speculation also includes the possibility of a “hackquisition,” with Apple being a suggested potential acquirer due to past ties with Murati.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly happened at Thinking Machines Lab with its co-founders?
Two co-founders of Thinking Machines Lab, Barret Zoph and Luke Metz, along with staffer Sam Schoenholz, departed the startup on January 14, 2026. They all returned to OpenAI, where they had worked previously. This move came less than a year after Thinking Machines Lab was founded by Mira Murati, Zoph, and Metz. This marks the second significant co-founder departure, following Andrew Tulloch’s exit to Meta in October.
What were the differing accounts regarding Barret Zoph’s departure?
There are two main narratives. Thinking Machines Lab reportedly claimed Barret Zoph was fired for “unethical conduct,” with suggestions he shared confidential information with competitors. However, OpenAI’s CEO of Applications, Fidji Simo, stated that Zoph informed Mira Murati on Monday of his intent to leave, and was subsequently fired on Wednesday. Simo explicitly noted that OpenAI does not share Thinking Machines’ concerns about Zoph, suggesting a contentious split.
How does this event impact the broader AI talent landscape?
This event underscores the intense “AI talent wars” and the powerful “gravity well” effect exerted by established companies like OpenAI. It demonstrates that even well-funded startups, like Thinking Machines Lab with its $12 billion valuation, struggle to retain top talent against the resources and infrastructure of AI giants. This incident highlights the high mobility of key researchers in the AI sector and emphasizes the need for startups to offer more than just capital to secure long-term commitment.
The Thinking Machines Lab departures underscore a critical truth about the modern AI industry: talent is paramount. While significant funding can accelerate growth, retaining the visionary minds that drive innovation remains the ultimate challenge. OpenAI has clearly demonstrated its ability to draw key players back into its orbit. Thinking Machines Lab, under new CTO Soumith Chintala, now faces the task of proving its resilience and unique value proposition. The coming months will reveal how this high-stakes talent migration truly reshapes the competitive AI landscape.
