Overview
- Thinking Machines CEO Mira Murati announced the company has parted ways with co‑founder and CTO Barret Zoph and appointed Soumith Chintala as the new CTO.
- OpenAI’s Fidji Simo said Zoph, fellow co‑founder Luke Metz, and Sam Schoenholz are rejoining OpenAI, describing the moves as planned for weeks.
- Multiple outlets report allegations that Zoph was fired for “unethical conduct,” including claims he shared confidential information, which OpenAI says it does not share as a concern.
- Reporting indicates further turbulence at Thinking Machines, with resignations after an internal all‑hands and at least two more employees expected to join OpenAI.
- The shakeup follows a $2 billion seed round last July that valued Thinking Machines at about $12 billion, with reports the company has pursued a larger raise and faces questions about product direction.