Thinking Machines Lab, the artificial intelligence startup founded by former OpenAI executive Mira Murati, is facing a significant leadership shake-up after two of its co-founders exited the company to return to OpenAI.
The executives who have left the startup are Barret Zoph, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, and Luke Metz, another co-founder. Sam Schoenholz, a senior researcher who joined Thinking Machines Lab from OpenAI, is also returning to the ChatGPT maker.
The developments come less than a year after the company’s launch, raising questions about leadership stability at one of Silicon Valley’s most closely watched AI startups.
OpenAI Confirms Return of Researchers
OpenAI confirmed the return of Zoph Metz and Schoenholz in a public statement. The announcement was shared by Fidji Simo, CEO of OpenAI’s Applications division, who said discussions around the move had been underway for several weeks.
All three previously held key roles at OpenAI before leaving to join Murati’s new venture.
Murati Appoints New CTO
Mira Murati, who previously served as OpenAI’s Chief Technology Officer, acknowledged the departure of Barret Zoph in a social media post. She confirmed that the company had parted ways with him and announced that Soumith Chintala, a prominent AI researcher and one of the creators of PyTorch, has been appointed as the new CTO of Thinking Machines Lab.
Murati did not provide detailed reasons for the departures but said the company would continue advancing its research objectives.
High Profile Startup Backed by Major Funding
Thinking Machines Lab gained attention in 2025 after securing 2 billion dollars in seed funding, one of the largest rounds ever raised by an AI startup. The funding reportedly valued the company at approximately 12 billion dollars. Investors include Andreessen Horowitz, Nvidia, Accel, AMD, and Jane Street.
The startup was formed by a group of former OpenAI researchers with a mission to develop next-generation AI systems focused on safety alignment and advanced reasoning.
Intensifying Competition for AI Talent
Industry analysts say the exits underscore the fierce competition for top AI talent, particularly between heavily funded startups and established companies like OpenAI. The departure of co-founders at an early stage may present challenges for Thinking Machines Lab, especially as it has yet to launch a major commercial product.
This is not the first senior-level departure from the company. Another co-founder, Andrew Tulloch, reportedly left in late 2025 to join Meta.
Outlook for the Company
While the leadership changes represent a setback, analysts believe the appointment of an experienced technologist like Soumith Chintala could help stabilize the startup. Meanwhile, OpenAI’s ability to reattract senior researchers highlights its growing influence in the global AI landscape.
As competition in artificial intelligence continues to intensify, movement of talent across companies is expected to persist, and leadership stability may prove decisive in determining which AI ventures succeed over the long term.
