OpenAI Welcomes Back Three Former Employees from Thinking Machines
The battle for top artificial intelligence talent is intensifying. OpenAI has successfully rehired three of its former staff members who had previously left to join Mira Murati's Thinking Machines Lab. This development throws a spotlight on the aggressive competition among AI companies to secure skilled professionals.
Key Personnel Return to OpenAI
OpenAI has onboarded Barret Zoph, Luke Metz, and Sam Schoenholz. These individuals had departed OpenAI to work at the startup founded by former OpenAI executive Mira Murati. Their return was announced publicly by Fidji Simo, OpenAI's CEO of Applications, on the social media platform X.
Simo expressed clear excitement about the move. "Excited to welcome Barret Zoph, Luke Metz, and Sam Schoenholz back to OpenAI!" she wrote. "This has been in the works for several weeks, and we’re thrilled to have them join the team." She also outlined the reporting structure, noting that Zoph will report directly to her, while Metz and Schoenholz will report to Zoph.
Thinking Machines Responds with New CTO Appointment
In response to these departures, Thinking Machines has made a significant leadership change. Mira Murati confirmed the company "parted ways with Barret Zoph." She announced the appointment of Soumith Chintala as the new Chief Technology Officer.
Murati praised Chintala's credentials. "He is a brilliant and seasoned leader who has made important contributions to the AI field for over a decade," she stated, expressing strong confidence in his new role.
Behind-the-Scenes Developments and Speculation
The circumstances surrounding Zoph's departure from Thinking Machines remain somewhat unclear. According to a Bloomberg report, an internal memo from OpenAI's Fidji Simo attempted to clarify the situation. Simo stated that Zoph informed Murati he was considering leaving, and she subsequently fired him.
The memo also addressed rumors, noting that OpenAI did not share concerns about "unethical reasons" for Zoph's dismissal. Neither Zoph nor the involved companies have provided detailed public comments on the matter, according to reports.
Notably, Fortune reported that Zoph and Metz were actually co-founders of Thinking Machines alongside Murati, with Schoenholz being part of the founding team. This adds another layer to the significance of their return to OpenAI.
Broader Implications for the AI Talent Market
This episode is part of a larger trend. The AI sector is witnessing a fierce war for talent as companies vie for a limited pool of experts. There is further speculation that at least two more researchers from Thinking Machines, Lia Guy and Ian O'Connell, might also leave, with Guy potentially heading to OpenAI.
These departures represent a challenge for Thinking Machines. The startup had secured a massive $2 billion in seed funding in July, marking a record for Silicon Valley. However, it now faces retention issues. Another co-founder, Andrew Tulloch, left in late 2025 to join Meta AI.
Financial incentives appear to be a major driver in these moves. The Fortune report suggests that startups often struggle to match the compensation packages offered by tech giants like Meta, Google, and OpenAI. A source indicated that financial motivations were behind most of the departures from Thinking Machines.
Murati herself had reportedly turned down a lucrative offer from Meta to start her own company, illustrating the high stakes involved in attracting and retaining top AI leadership.
The ongoing shuffle of high-profile AI professionals between major firms and ambitious startups underscores the immense value placed on expertise in this multi-billion dollar industry. Companies are pulling out all the stops to build their teams, making talent acquisition a central battlefield for AI supremacy.
