New Delhi: Mira Murati’s young AI startup Thinking Machines Lab is back in the spotlight, this time for a sudden leadership shake-up that has sent ripples across the global AI industry. The company, barely a year old and already valued in billions, is seeing key exits just as the competition between OpenAI and its alumni-led rivals heats up.
The developments come at a sensitive moment. Thinking Machines Lab recently raised massive funding and positioned itself as a serious player in advanced AI tooling. Now, the departure of senior figures has raised fresh questions about internal stability, talent movement, and the fierce tug of war between AI giants.
We have parted ways with Barret Zoph.
Soumith Chintala will be the new CTO of Thinking Machines. He is a brilliant and seasoned leader who has made important contributions to the AI field for over a decade, and he’s been a major contributor to our team. We could not be more…
— Mira Murati (@miramurati) January 14, 2026
CTO exit puts Thinking Machines Lab under the microscope
Mira Murati confirmed on X that Thinking Machines Lab has parted ways with its chief technology officer Barret Zoph. In the same post, she announced that Soumith Chintala will step in as the new CTO. Murati described Chintala as “a brilliant and seasoned leader who has made important contributions to the AI field for over a decade”.
Zoph is not the only senior figure leaving. Co founder Luke Metz and senior researcher Sam Schoenholz are also exiting the startup. All three had previously worked at OpenAI before joining Murati to launch Thinking Machines Lab in late 2024.
According to Murati, the leadership change marks a new phase for the company. She said the team is excited to have Chintala take on the responsibility at a time when the startup is scaling fast.
Excited to welcome Barret Zoph, Luke Metz, and Sam Schoenholz back to OpenAI! This has been in the works for several weeks, and we’re thrilled to have them join the team. Barret will report to me; Luke and Sam will report into Barret. More to come on what they’ll focus on soon!
— Fidji Simo (@fidjissimo) January 15, 2026
Two versions of the same exit story
Two narratives have emerged around Zoph’s departure. OpenAI executive Fidji Simo welcomed Zoph, Metz and Schoenholz back to OpenAI, saying the move “has been in the works for several weeks”. She added that Zoph will report directly to her, while the others will work under him.
A separate Wired report paints a more complex picture. It cited sources claiming Zoph was fired for “unethical conduct”, including allegations that confidential information was shared with competitors. Wired noted it could not independently verify these claims, and Zoph did not respond to requests for comment.
Simo reportedly told OpenAI staff that Zoph had informed Murati he was considering leaving, and was later let go. She also wrote that OpenAI does not share the same concerns as Thinking Machines Lab.
Why this matters for the AI race
The exits are a setback for Thinking Machines Lab, which already lost co-founder Andrew Tulloch to Meta last year. At the same time, the move strengthens OpenAI, which has faced its own senior departures in recent months.
Thinking Machines Lab remains well funded. The startup recently raised USD 2 billion, around ₹17600 crore, in a seed round and is building tools like the Tinker API for AI developers. With Soumith Chintala, a PyTorch co-creator and VIT alumnus, now leading technology, the company is betting on steady execution over headlines.
In today’s AI boom, talent moves fast. This episode shows just how closely watched every move has become.