Soumith Chintala Joins Thinking Machines Lab as AI Landscape Shifts
Soumith Chintala, a prominent figure in artificial intelligence and co-founder of PyTorch, has joined the rapidly evolving startup Thinking Machines Lab, founded by Mira Murati, former Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI. This significant move follows a major restructuring within Meta’s AI division, where Chintala previously held a leadership role.
Chintala’s decision to join Thinking Machines Lab, which aims to enhance human-AI collaboration, comes just weeks after he announced his departure from Meta. He shared his excitement about the new venture on his X account, stating, “[T]hinking machines…the people are incredible.” His transition marks a pivotal moment in his career, as he shifts focus to a startup environment after nearly 11 years at Meta and nearly eight years developing PyTorch, which has become a crucial tool in AI development across various sectors.
Thinking Machines Lab has gained attention for its aggressive recruitment strategy, attracting top talent from leading organizations in the AI space. The startup’s early hires include notable figures such as John Schulman, who was instrumental in the development of ChatGPT, and Alec Radford, enhancing its reputation as a formidable player in the AI talent market.
Chintala’s departure from Meta coincides with the company’s ongoing overhaul of its AI initiatives. Meta has recently reorganized its AI efforts, creating a new Superintelligence Labs division led by Alexandr Wang, formerly CEO of Scale AI. This restructuring has involved recruiting numerous engineers and researchers from competitors like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Apple. Reports indicate that Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scientist, is also preparing to leave the company, further highlighting the significant changes within Meta’s AI landscape.
Thinking Machines Lab has already raised a substantial $2 billion seed funding round at a $10 billion valuation earlier this year. The company is reportedly in discussions to secure additional funding, aiming for a valuation of $50 billion. This rapid growth has positioned the startup at the forefront of AI innovation, as it seeks to develop products that facilitate collaboration between humans and AI systems.
The startup’s first product, Tinker, is designed to assist users in fine-tuning large language models for AI applications. Researchers at prestigious institutions, including Princeton and Stanford, are already utilizing Tinker, which underscores the startup’s commitment to creating impactful tools within the AI research community.
Chintala’s move to Thinking Machines Lab signifies a new chapter in his career, as he expressed a desire to engage in “something small… something new… something uncomfortable.” He acknowledged the evolution of AI technology and emphasized that PyTorch had reached a level of stability where it could thrive independently, prompting his decision to explore new opportunities.
As the AI sector remains highly competitive, Thinking Machines Lab continues to assert itself in the market. The company has offered salaries as high as $500,000 for technical positions, reflecting its commitment to attracting the best talent in the industry.
While some initial team members have departed, including cofounder Andrew Tulloch, who recently returned to Meta, the overall trajectory for Thinking Machines Lab appears promising. With Chintala’s expertise and the ongoing recruitment of top-tier talent, the startup is poised to make significant strides in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence.
Thinking Machines Lab has not provided comments regarding Chintala’s new role, and he did not respond to inquiries from Business Insider. As the startup continues to develop and expand its offerings, the implications of these changes will be closely monitored within the AI community.
