**The Great Flip-Flop: Pondering Machines Founders Make a Shocking Return to OpenAI**
Get ready for a whirlwind of controversy and drama, folks! It’s official: Barret Zoph and Luke Metz, the cofounders of Pondering Machines, are ditching their own lab coats for OpenAI’s sleek new jerseys.
The news dropped like a bombshell yesterday, courtesy of an email from OpenAI’s CEO of Operations, Fidji Simo. And let me tell you, there’s a whole lot of intrigue and mystery surrounding this move.
First off, the rumor mill has been churning out whispers about Zoph’s alleged “unethical conduct” at Pondering Machines. According to a report from X, Zoph got canned from his own company for sharing confidential company data with competitors. A source close to the company claims it’s true, but Zoph himself hasn’t confirmed or denied anything.
Here’s what we do know: Zoph allegedly told Pondering Machines CEO Mira Murati on Monday that he was thinking of peacing out, and by Tuesday morning, he was officially let go. Simo’s memo states that OpenAI’s got no concerns about Zoph’s sketchy past, which is… weird, considering the whole ordeal.
This isn’t the only big change happening at OpenAI, though. They recently lost their VP of research, Jerry Tworek, and now they’re scooping up talent from their former competitor, Pondering Machines. Sam Schoenholz, another Pondering Machines Lab staffer, is also making the switch to OpenAI.
For those who are keeping score, Zoph, Metz, and Schoenholz used to work at OpenAI before leaving to start Pondering Machines with Murati, who was previously OpenAI’s chief technology officer. Guess some wounds are healable, because it seems like they’re all getting back together again.
I’ve got my eyes glued to this developing story, and I’ll be sure to keep you posted on any new updates! Stay tuned!
**Source:** [https://www.wired.com/story/thinking-machines-lab-cofounders-leave-for-openai/](https://www.wired.com/story/thinking-machines-lab-cofounders-leave-for-openai/)
