Thinking Machines AI Startup Loses CTO, Staff to OpenAI Amid $50B Valuation Talks

AI startup Thinking Machines faces a leadership and talent crisis as co-founder and CTO Barret Zoph and several researchers departed for OpenAI last week, threatening its reported efforts to raise funds at a $50 billion valuation. The exits followed a breakdown in trust between Zoph and CEO Mira Murati, with conflicting accounts over his termination. The startup, founded in February 2025 by former OpenAI CTO Murati, was valued at $12 billion after a $2 billion seed round last summer. It is part of a trend of "neolabs"—high-value startups launched by ex-OpenAI leaders, like Safe Superintelligence ($32B valuation). Analysts note the $50B target is highly unusual for a pre-revenue company, highlighting the exuberant funding environment for AI teams with "frontier-level" pedigree.