Leaders at Mira Murati's Thinking Machines Lab confronted the startup's co-founder and former CTO, Barret Zoph, last summer over an alleged relationship with another employee, according to sources familiar with the matter. The relationship is believed to be the alleged misconduct previously reported by WIRED and other outlets. The employee, who held a leadership role in a different department than Zoph, is no longer with the company.
Murati reportedly approached Zoph to discuss the relationship, which sources say led to a breakdown in their working relationship in the following months. Zoph subsequently began exploring opportunities with rival companies. Before his departure from Thinking Machines, Zoph was in discussions with leaders from Meta Superintelligence Labs, according to a source. He was later hired by OpenAI.
Fidji Simo, OpenAI's CEO of applications, stated that Zoph's hiring had been in progress for several weeks. Simo also indicated that she was not privy to Thinking Machines' ethical concerns regarding Zoph. Zoph and OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment.
The situation at Thinking Machines highlights the growing scrutiny of workplace relationships, particularly those involving power imbalances, in the global tech industry. Similar incidents have sparked debate in various countries, raising questions about corporate ethics, transparency, and the protection of employees. In many Western nations, companies are increasingly implementing stricter policies regarding workplace relationships to mitigate potential conflicts of interest and legal liabilities. However, cultural norms and legal frameworks vary significantly across the globe, leading to differing approaches to addressing such issues. For example, some countries in Asia may prioritize maintaining harmony and avoiding public disclosure, while others in Europe may have stricter regulations regarding employee privacy and data protection.
The departure of Zoph from Thinking Machines and his subsequent hiring by OpenAI also underscores the intense competition for talent in the artificial intelligence sector. As AI development accelerates globally, companies are vying for skilled engineers and researchers, sometimes overlooking potential ethical concerns in their pursuit of innovation. This trend raises questions about the long-term implications for the industry and the need for greater ethical oversight.
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