Thinking Machines Lab, the AI startup founded by former OpenAI executive Mira Murati, is already facing a major shake-up, and it’s coming from a familiar place.
Just months after launching with massive backing and industry buzz, the company is parting ways with two of its co-founders, both of whom are returning to OpenAI. Another early team member is also heading back to the AI giant, marking a notable talent reversal at one of Silicon Valley’s most closely watched startups.
Murati confirmed that Barret Zoph, co-founder and chief technology officer, has exited the company. She also announced a leadership change, naming Soumith Chintala as the new CTO. Murati praised Chintala’s long-standing contributions to the AI field and positioned the transition as a step forward for the company’s technical leadership.
However, the story didn’t end there.
Less than an hour later, OpenAI publicly welcomed Zoph back, alongside Luke Metz and Sam Schoenholz, signalling that the move had been in motion well before the announcement. Both Metz and Schoenholz previously worked at OpenAI and were part of Thinking Machines’ early technical team.
A Talent Loop Back to OpenAI
Zoph brings deep experience back to OpenAI, having previously served as VP of Research after a long stint at Google. Metz and Schoenholz also return with strong research backgrounds tied closely to OpenAI’s earlier breakthroughs.
Murati herself left OpenAI in late 2024, where she served as CTO, to launch Thinking Machines Lab. The startup quickly attracted attention and capital. In mid-2025, it closed a $2 billion seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz, with backing from Accel, Nvidia, AMD, and Jane Street, valuing the company at $12 billion.
That momentum makes the sudden exit of multiple co-founders hard to ignore.
Why This Move Matters
Founder turnover happens all the time in tech. But losing senior leaders, especially a CTO, less than a year after launch, raises questions about alignment, execution, and long-term vision.
The situation also highlights a broader pattern in today’s AI ecosystem: talent continues to circulate rapidly between frontier labs and well-funded startups. OpenAI itself has seen senior leaders depart in recent years to build competitors, only for some to return as priorities shift and stakes rise.
Thinking Machines Lab has also seen other early departures, including a co-founder who joined Meta late last year. Meanwhile, OpenAI continues to absorb experienced researchers as competition in advanced AI development intensifies.
For now, Murati and her team are pressing ahead with a refreshed leadership structure. Still, the early reshuffling underscores just how fluid and unforgiving the AI talent market has become.
