Thinking Machines co-founders Zoph and Metz return to OpenAI

by Paul Drecksler | Jan 15, 2026 | Latest E-commerce News & Updates

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Thinking Machines Lab co-founders Barret Zoph and Luke Metz left the startup to rejoin OpenAI. Reports indicated Zoph was fired by CEO Mira Murati for alleged unethical conduct, though OpenAI leadership explicitly dismissed these concerns. The move bolsters OpenAI’s team following recent research departures.

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Paul Drecksler is the founder and editor of Shopifreaks, covering the most important stories in e-commerce.

Companies: OpenAI

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