Key Mira Murati-led Thinking Machines executives exit to join back OpenAI

Key Mira Murati-led Thinking Machines executives exit to join back OpenAI

15 Jan 2026, 11:20 AM

Notably, Meta had made an attempt to lure a handful of senior researchers from Thinking Machines last year but they had reportedly rejected the offer.

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Thinking Machines Labs, founded by former OpenAI executive Mira Murati, is witnessing a management churn just months after it raised a massive funding round.

In an X post Murati said that Barret Zoph is leaving the company.

She added that Soumith Chintala will be the new CTO of Thinking Machines.

"He (Chintala) is a brilliant and seasoned leader who has made important contributions to the AI field for over a decade, and he’s been a major contributor to our team. We could not be more excited to have him take on this new responsibility," she noted.

Interestingly, just minutes after Murati's post, Fidji Simo, OpenAI’s CEO of applications, announced in an X post that Zoph, Luke Metz and Samuel Schoenholz will all join back the Sam Altman-led AI startup.

"This has been in the works for several weeks, and we’re thrilled to have them join the team. Barret will report to me; Luke and Sam will report into Barret. More to come on what they’ll focus on soon," said Simo.

Thinking Machines had raised a whopping $2 billion in a seed funding round led by Andreessen Howowitz in July last year at a valuation of $12 billion.

Notably, Meta had made an attempt to lure a handful of senior researchers from Thinking Machines last year but they had reportedly rejected the offer.

Murati had gained widespread recognition in 2023 when she temporarily assumed the CEO role at OpenAI following Sam Altman's brief removal by the company's board.

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