At a Glance
- Thinking Machines Lab confronted cofounder Barret Zoph last summer over an alleged relationship with another employee.
- The incident is believed to be the “misconduct” cited in earlier reports.
- Zoph later left for OpenAI, joined by three more researchers this week.
- Why it matters: The turmoil comes as the startup tries to triple its valuation to $50 billion.
Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab faced internal upheaval after leadership challenged cofounder and then-CTO Barret Zoph about an alleged relationship with an employee, sources told News Of Fort Worth. The confrontation occurred last summer and is now viewed as the previously reported “misconduct” that has shadowed the AI startup.
The employee, a leader in a different department, left the company. News Of Fort Worth is withholding the individual’s name to protect privacy.
Murati personally spoke with Zoph about the relationship. In the months that followed, the cofounders’ collaboration deteriorated, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. Zoph began exploring roles elsewhere, holding talks with Meta Superintelligence Labs before ultimately accepting a position at OpenAI.
OpenAI applications CEO Fidji Simo said Zoph’s recruitment had been “in the works for weeks” and stated she did not share Thinking Machines’ ethical concerns. Zoph and OpenAI both declined to comment for this story.
The personnel shifts did not end there. This week, cofounder Luke Metz and at least three additional researchers exited for OpenAI. In October, fellow cofounder Andrew Tulloch left for Meta.
While the conflict between Murati and Zoph intensified recently, it does not fully account for the broader departure wave. Earlier News Of Fort Worth reporting noted internal disagreement over the startup’s product direction.
Investor pressure remains high. In November, the company was reportedly seeking fresh funding at a $50 billion valuation, a leap from its current $12 billion mark.
Thinking Machines Lab declined to comment.
Key Takeaways
- Leadership confronted Zoph about an alleged relationship last summer.
- The rift contributed to Zoph’s exit and subsequent hiring at OpenAI.
- Additional departures signal deeper strategic discord inside the startup.
- Fund-raising ambitions at a $50 billion valuation add urgency to stabilize the team.
