Thinking Machines cofounders Barret Zoph and Luke Metz are set to leave the emerging AI lab and return to OpenAI, as announced by OpenAI’s applications CEO, Fidji Simo, in a memo to staff on Thursday afternoon. Technology reporter Kylie Robison first broke the news on X, noting that Zoph was fired due to allegations of “unethical conduct.” A source close to Thinking Machines revealed that Zoph had disclosed confidential company information to competitors. WIRED has not been able to confirm this with Zoph, who did not respond to their request for comment.
According to Simo’s memo, Zoph informed Thinking Machines CEO Mira Murati on Monday that he was thinking about leaving, but was fired today. Simo mentioned that OpenAI does not share the same concerns about Zoph as Murati does. This shake-up is a significant win for OpenAI, which recently lost its VP of research, Jerry Tworek.
Another staff member from Thinking Machines, Sam Schoenholz, is also expected to return to OpenAI, according to the source. Zoph and Metz originally departed OpenAI in late 2024 to launch Thinking Machines with Murati, who previously served as the CTO of the ChatGPT creator.
This is an evolving story, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
