Thinking Machines co‑founder Barret Zoph joins Google after OpenAI stint

Zoph, a co‑founder of the artificial‑intelligence startup Thinking Machines Lab, has moved from a short tenure at OpenAI to a new role at Google. While at Thinking Machines, he served as chief technology officer alongside fellow founder Mira Murati, steering the company’s research agenda and product development.

After stepping down from Thinking Machines, Zoph joined OpenAI for a brief period before accepting an offer from Google. The transition follows a growing trend of AI talent shifting between leading tech firms, as each organization seeks to bolster its research capabilities and product offerings in the competitive AI landscape.

Google’s acquisition of Zoph is expected to strengthen its AI research team, particularly in areas of machine learning architecture and system optimization, building on his experience from both Thinking Machines and OpenAI. The move underscores the continued demand for seasoned AI engineers in the industry.