Thinking Machines Lab, the AI startup founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, is undergoing a significant leadership reshuffle less than a year after its launch, with multiple co-founders exiting the company and returning to OpenAI. The changes mark an early test for the high-profile venture, which has attracted global attention for its ambition, talent pool, and record-breaking seed funding.
Murati confirmed that the company has parted ways with co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Barret Zoph, announcing a leadership transition at the top of its technical organisation. “We have parted ways with Barret,” Murati wrote on X, adding, “We could not be more excited to have him take on this new responsibility.” She also announced that renowned AI researcher Soumith Chintala will step in as the new CTO, signaling continuity in technical depth despite the departure.
Shortly after Murati’s post, OpenAI confirmed that Zoph is returning to the company, along with Thinking Machines Lab co-founder Luke Metz and researcher Samuel Schoenholz. “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,” Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of applications, said on X. Zoph previously served as OpenAI’s vice president of research, while Metz and Schoenholz were long-standing members of its technical staff.
The exits are notable given Thinking Machines Lab’s scale and momentum. Founded by Murati after she stepped down as OpenAI CTO in September 2024, the startup quickly made headlines by raising a $2 billion seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz, valuing the company at $12 billion. The firm had assembled a star-studded team drawn from leading AI organisations including OpenAI, Meta, and Mistral AI, positioning itself as a serious contender in the frontier AI race.
While talent circulation between top AI labs is common in the industry, the departure of multiple co-founders in a short period places added scrutiny on Thinking Machines Lab’s internal alignment and execution. The appointment of Chintala as CTO suggests Murati is moving swiftly to stabilise leadership and maintain technical credibility as the company continues to build toward its long-term vision.
As competition intensifies among frontier AI players, how Thinking Machines Lab navigates this transition will be closely watched by investors, researchers, and the broader AI ecosystem.
