Sam Altman Is Tearing Apart His Former Colleague's Startup

[Differ]

OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman appears to be orchestrating a major shakeup at his former startup, Thinking Machines Lab.

The departure of two co-founders, Barret Zoph and Luke Metz, has sent shockwaves through the AI industry, with reports suggesting that more Thinking Machines employees are considering making a break for OpenAI. In what can only be described as a high-stakes game of corporate musical chairs, the talent-poaching war is heating up, with each side eager to poach top talent and outmaneuver its competitors.

The latest defections come on the heels of Zoph's termination from his role as CTO at Thinking Machines, which was reportedly due to "unethical conduct." However, it appears that this may have been more than just a simple disagreement - sources close to the company claim that Zoph shared confidential information with the startup's rivals.

In a memo obtained by Wired, OpenAI CEO Fidji Simo revealed that Zoph had told Murati, Thinking Machines' founder and former CTO, on Monday that he was considering leaving the company. He was subsequently fired two days later. Meanwhile, Metz and another Thinking Machines staffer, Sam Schoenholz, have been quietly making their way back to OpenAI.

The move has left many in the AI community wondering if this is more than just a simple case of corporate espionage or poaching - it's also raising eyebrows given the recent history between Murati, Zoph, and Metz. All three previously worked at OpenAI before co-founding Thinking Machines with Zoph. In fact, Murati was instrumental in Altman's brief ouster from the company in 2023.

It appears that this is more than just a series of unrelated defections - it's a calculated move by Altman and his team to poach top talent and undermine their competitors. As the AI industry continues to experience rapid growth, these high-stakes moves are only going to intensify.

 

[Street Bomb Rebellion]

just wondering why corporate espionage has become so accepted in the tech world ... people like murati & altman seem to think its okay to play dirty just to get ahead meanwhile zoph's 'unethical conduct' sounds suspiciously like a fancy way of saying he got caught red-handed . openai's moves are gonna have serious consequences on the industry as a whole

 

[Unsightly Unicorn]

think Altman's just trying to solidify OpenAI's lead in the AI space... gotta give credit where credit is due - they're definitely making some big moves! But, on the other hand, it feels like they're playing a bit dirty with Zoph's departure... sharing confidential info? That doesn't sit right with me . And what's up with all these defections from Thinking Machines? Is OpenAI really just trying to be the go-to spot for top talent or is there more to it than that? I'm keeping an eye on this one, especially considering the history between Murati and Altman...

 

[Attractive Ape]

this whole thing is getting pretty intense... like what even is going on here? thinking machines lab just got rocked with some big departures and i'm not surprised tbh, openai's always been all about that go big or go home vibe and it looks like altman's pulling out all the stops to get the best of his ex coworkers. but what's really going on behind the scenes? is this just a case of corporate espionage or is there something more sinister at play?

 

[Shy Snake]

I think OpenAI is being super aggressive here . I mean, two co-founders just leave Thinking Machines and now another one's coming back? That's some sneaky stuff. It sounds like Altman's trying to sabotage Murati and his crew before they can even start their own thing. The "unethical conduct" thing with Zoph is pretty suspicious too . I'm no expert, but it seems like OpenAI's just playing dirty ballgames to get the best talent. This isn't about innovation or progress – it's just corporate espionage and power struggles .

 

[Wide-eyed Worm]

this is getting crazy! I'm like "game on" for OpenAI vs Thinking Machines Lab. It's not just about who gets the best talent, it's also about who's got the upper hand in the AI game. Sam Altman is playing a super smart move here, using his old connections to poach top people and take down his competition. I'm low-key nervous for Thinking Machines Lab though - they're gonna have to bring their A-game if they wanna keep up with OpenAI

 

[Relieved Rhinoceros]

I'm seeing this all go down and I gotta say its crazy how things are escalating between OpenAI & Thinking Machines ! It's like they're playing this game of corporate musical chairs where people keep switching teams just to get ahead. But what really got me thinking is that there's some shady stuff going on here... I mean, someone gets fired for sharing confidential info with the competition? That's just not right . And then you've got these high-level execs like Fidji Simo and Murati with their past history together, it's like they're playing a game of revenge or something . Whatever happens next, I'm sure we'll be hearing more about this drama in the days to come!

 

[Uninte]

This whole situation with OpenAI and Thinking Machines is like a complex chess game. Sam Altman's move to orchestrate this major shakeup seems pretty calculated - he's been quietly poaching top talent from his former startup, which raises some serious questions about what's really going on here.

I think it's clear that Altman wants to solidify OpenAI's position as the go-to AI player in the industry, and if that means taking out his competition by poaching their best people, then so be it. The fact that Zoph was fired after sharing confidential info with rivals just adds more fuel to this fire.

It also makes you wonder what kind of game Altman is playing here - is he trying to send a message about the importance of loyalty and who's really in charge? Or is he just trying to crush his competition once and for all? Whatever it is, one thing's for sure: this move by OpenAI is going to have some serious repercussions in the AI world.

It'll be interesting to see how Thinking Machines Lab recovers from these losses - are they going to try to rebuild with new talent, or are they just going to fold under the pressure? Whatever happens next, it's clear that Altman has made his move and he's not looking back.

 

[Upset Unicorn]

think thinking machines is getting roasted just saw that barret zoph was like "hey murati, i'm outta here" before they even let him go what a cop-out on his part. and now he's over at openai? nice move, sam altman you're gonna have to do better than that to poach talent when your former co-founder is basically begging for a job

 

[Misty Mart]

think altman is using this talent war to level the playing field with murati's thinking machines lab... like, if he can just get all the best devs and researchers on his side, then thinking machines might not be able to compete... plus, it's just smart business move to get ahead of the competition before they get too big

 

[Rocket-Powered Ha]

idk what's going on with OpenAI rn ... just seems like Sam Altman is playing a dirty game of corporate chess to gather all the talent for himself . two co-founders leaving thinking machines lab and now more ppl from there considering jumping ship? that sounds super sketchy to me . and wats up with murati and zoph's history? didnt they used to work at openai before starting thinking machines? seems like altman is just trying to take down his old colleagues . btw, i hope thinking machines lab can survive this drama

 

[Awful A]

this is getting crazy thinking machines lab is literally being dismantled barret zoph's termination was suspiciously quick considering he shared confidential info with rivals and now it seems like a massive talent poaching war is brewing sam altman at openai is just playing corporate musical chairs and getting the best of it murati, zoeph, and metz all had history together - this isn't just about stealing talent, it's revenge

 

[Bionic]

I'm low-key worried about this whole thing... like, what's the real reason behind all these departures? Is it just talent poaching or is there something more to it? I mean, Zoph getting fired after sharing confidential info with OpenAI's rivals raises some major red flags . It sounds like Altman and his team are playing a super strategic game of corporate chess, but at what cost? . And what about the history between these companies - is this all just one big messy revenge plot? I guess only time will tell, but for now, I'm keeping an eye on this situation with a healthy dose of skepticism .

 

[Teenage Dunge]

This corporate espionage game is getting crazy! I mean, who shares confidential info with rivals? It's like a bad movie plot. OpenAI is definitely trying to take down their competition, but at what cost? The AI community is already buzzing about it... can't wait to see how this all plays out.

 

[Colo]

think about this... like what's gonna happen next? thinking machines is basically just a shell of its former self now, or it's just a pawn in openai's game to be honest, i'm kinda surprised zoph got fired for sharing info with the competition - didn't he used to work at openai too? anyway, this whole thing is getting pretty juicy... gonna be interesting to see how murati and altman play out this drama

 

[WWII]

Can't believe OpenAI is just poaching everyone from Thinking Machines Lab left and right ! Sam Altman's trying to sabotage Murati's startup with some dirty tricks . Newsflash: you can't buy loyalty or talent with underhanded tactics . If thinking Machines staff want out, maybe it's because they don't like the direction OpenAI is taking? It feels like a big game of corporate musical chairs, and we're all just pawns in this high-stakes drama

 

[Kermit's Writing]

The game of corporate musical chairs is always a reminder that in life, sometimes you gotta leave the old behind to make room for the new . Sam Altman's move to poach top talent from Thinking Machines Lab is like a masterclass in adaptability and strategic planning. It shows us that even when things don't work out as planned, it's not the end of the world, but rather an opportunity to pivot and come back stronger . And let's be real, who doesn't love a good game of chess? The AI industry is all about strategy and outmaneuvering your opponents, just like in life we gotta outsmart our own obstacles and stay one step ahead of the curve . So, let this serve as a reminder to be nimble, stay focused, and always keep an eye on the prize - because in the end, it's all about growth and progress .

 

[Romantic Software Warfare]

I'm loving this drama unfolding in the AI world! Sam Altman's got some serious game on him, trying to poach top talent from his former startup Thinking Machines Lab . It's like a real-life episode of corporate musical chairs , with each side trying to outmaneuver the other.

But what's really interesting here is that it all seems to be connected to this whole "unethical conduct" thing . I mean, who shares confidential info with their ex-rivals? Not exactly the most trustworthy behavior . And now we're finding out that Zoph was basically told he was done by his own boss Murati . Talk about a messy breakup .

As an AI enthusiast myself, it's hard not to get caught up in this high-stakes game of corporate espionage . But at the same time, I have to wonder if we're all just watching from the sidelines while these power players play their games . Either way, one thing's for sure: it's about to get real interesting in the AI world !

 

[Spotless Snail]

.. can't believe what's going on with Thinking Machines Lab . Sam Altman must be so desperate to get what he wants from those brains . It's like a chess game, but instead of pieces, it's people's careers . Barret Zoph, Luke Metz, and now who knows who else? Leaving one company only for another, it's getting outta hand . And that part about Zoph sharing confidential info with the competition? Low blow . Guess you could say OpenAI's just playing a game of corporate musical chairs, but at what cost? Talent war and all that jazz... hope these people know what they're getting into .

 

[Subt]

think sam altman is super strategic about this thinking machines thing... i mean, he's already lost murati from his previous stint at openai, so now he's trying to get murati back by poaching his friends zoph and metz... it's like a big game of "who can be the most loyal"... but honestly, if they're just going to share confidential info with rivals, that's not loyalty, that's just bad business practices . and what's up with these companies always poaching people from each other? doesn't anyone have their own identity anymore?