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OpenAI Rehires Thinking Machines Lab Co-Founders in January 2026

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • Barret Zoph and Luke Metz rejoined OpenAI in January 2026
  • Thinking Machines Lab appointed Soumith Chintala as new CTO
  • Thinking Machines Lab raised $2 billion in July 2025

OpenAI has brought back Barret Zoph and Luke Metz, both co-founders of Thinking Machines Lab, in January 2026. This personnel movement involves key figures with prior connections to both organizations.

OpenAI’s CEO of applications, Fidji Simo, announced in a staff memo that the hiring process for Zoph and Metz had been underway for several weeks. The return of these individuals to OpenAI marks a notable change in the leadership structure at Thinking Machines Lab.

Thinking Machines Lab CEO Mira Murati parted ways with Barret Zoph, who had been serving as the company’s CTO. Following this transition, Soumith Chintala was named as the new CTO at Thinking Machines Lab.

In addition to Zoph and Metz, another former Thinking Machines researcher, Sam Schoenholz, is also rejoining OpenAI. These moves reflect ongoing personnel changes between the two San Francisco-based artificial intelligence organizations.

What the numbers show

  • Thinking Machines Lab was founded in February 2025
  • The company raised $2 billion in seed funding in July 2025
  • Thinking Machines Lab was valued at $12 billion after the funding round

Thinking Machines Lab was established in February 2025 by Mira Murati, who previously served as CTO at OpenAI. The company is structured as a public benefit corporation and operates out of San Francisco.

In July 2025, Thinking Machines Lab completed a seed funding round that brought in $2 billion, resulting in a company valuation of $12 billion. This funding positioned the company as a prominent player in the artificial intelligence sector.

The recent departures and appointments at Thinking Machines Lab follow a period of rapid growth and organizational development. The company’s leadership has undergone several changes within a short timeframe.

OpenAI’s rehiring of former Thinking Machines Lab researchers and executives highlights the ongoing movement of talent within the artificial intelligence industry. The staff memo from OpenAI confirmed that these hires had been planned for several weeks prior to their announcement.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

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