tech
January 15, 2026
The AI lab revolving door spins ever faster
AI labs just can't get their employees to stay put.
TL;DR
- Three top executives departed Mira Murati's Thinking Machines lab and joined OpenAI.
- Two more employees are expected to leave Thinking Machines for OpenAI soon.
- Andrea Vallone, a senior safety research lead at OpenAI, has moved to Anthropic.
- Vallone specializes in AI model responses to mental health issues.
- Jan Leike, who left OpenAI in 2024 citing safety concerns, will work with Vallone at Anthropic.
- Max Stoiber, formerly director of engineering at Shopify, is joining OpenAI to work on its rumored operating system.