"Meta Poaches Thinking Machines Lab Co-Founder Andrew Tulloch for AI Ambitions"

Thinking Machines Lab Co-Founder Andrew Tulloch Joins Meta Amid Intense AI Recruitment Efforts Andrew Tulloch, co-founder of AI startup Thinking Machines Lab, has left the company to join Meta, citing personal reasons for his departure. According to a message sent to employees on Friday and confirmed by a Thinking Machines Labs spokesperson, Tulloch's decision comes after a reported attempt by Mark Zuckerberg to acquire or poach him with a lucrative compensation package worth up to $1.5 billion over six years. The move marks another significant departure from Thinking Machines Lab, which has faced intense competition and recruitment efforts from Meta in the AI research space. In August, The Wall Street Journal reported that Zuckerberg's aggressive AI recruiting blitz included an offer to acquire Thinking Machines Lab, but when that failed, he reportedly tried to lure Tulloch with a compensation package that could have been worth up to $1.5 billion over at least six years. Thinking Machines Lab has lost one of its co-founders to Meta, dealing another blow to the startup's efforts in the competitive AI research space. The company, led by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, has faced significant challenges in retaining top talent amidst Meta's aggressive recruitment efforts. According to a spokesperson for Thinking Machines Labs, Tulloch has decided to pursue a different path for personal reasons. "We appreciate Andrew's contributions to the company and wish him well in his future endeavors," the spokesperson said. The loss of Tulloch marks another significant departure from Thinking Machines Lab, which has faced intense competition and recruitment efforts from Meta in the AI research space. The move comes as no surprise given the reported attempts by Zuckerberg to acquire or poach top talent from rival companies. In a statement, a Meta spokesperson declined to comment on the specifics of Tulloch's compensation package but acknowledged that the company is committed to investing in AI research and development. "We're excited to have Andrew join our team and contribute his expertise to our efforts in AI," the spokesperson said. The departure of Tulloch from Thinking Machines Lab raises questions about the future of the startup, which has faced significant challenges in retaining top talent amidst Meta's aggressive recruitment efforts. As the competition for top AI researchers continues to intensify, it remains to be seen how Thinking Machines Lab will adapt and respond to the loss of one of its co-founders. In related news, Mark Zuckerberg's aggressive AI recruiting blitz has been a subject of interest among industry observers. The Wall Street Journal reported in August that Zuckerberg's efforts included an offer to acquire Thinking Machines Lab, but when that failed, he reportedly tried to lure top talent with lucrative compensation packages. As the AI research space continues to evolve and intensify, it will be interesting to see how companies like Meta and Thinking Machines Lab adapt and respond to the changing landscape. With Tulloch's departure from Thinking Machines Lab, one thing is clear: the competition for top AI researchers has never been fiercer. This story was compiled from reports by TechCrunch and TechCrunch.