Thinking Machines\u00a0co-founder\u00a0Lilian Weng\u00a0has stepped down from\u00a0the AI startup,\u00a0citing health concerns and the demands of startup life, before quickly returning to\u00a0OpenAI.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“I don\u2019t feel I\u2019m able to continue at the pace a startup requires. After thinking about it for several months, I have to ultimately admit that the amount of consistent stress and workload have pushed me beyond what my health can sustain physicallly,” Weng wrote in a post<\/a> on X.<\/p>\n Weng previously worked at OpenAI for more than six years, holding several roles during her time at the company including research scientist, head of applied AI research, head of safety systems and finally VP of research, safety, a role she remained in until 2024, when she left for Thinking Labs, according to her LinkedIn profile.<\/p>\n Thinking Machines co-founder and former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati responded<\/a> to Weng\u2019s post on X, voicing support for her decision to focus on her health.\u00a0<\/p>\n “We\u2019ll miss you, it\u2019s been wonderful building Thinky together. I\u2019m glad that you\u2019re putting you\u2019re health first. Thank you for everything,” Murati wrote under Weng\u2019s post. Whether Murati was aware that Weng would ultimately rejoin OpenAI remains unclear.<\/p>\n OpenAI Adds Talent<\/p>\n This is not the first time OpenAI has recruited talent from rival companies to strengthen its team.<\/p>\n Last month, Liz Wamai joined OpenAI as head of recruiting after more than three years at Netflix, as well as former Uber Technologies (NYSE:<\/a>UBER<\/a>) India and South Asia President Prabhjeet Singh as its managing director for the country.<\/p>\n