Thinking Machines Co-Founder Lilian Weng Leaves Company Citing Health Issues, Then Joins OpenAI
Lilian Weng, co-founder of Thinking Machines, steps down due to health concerns, but later joins OpenAI to lead a team focused on accelerating internal research.
This week, Lilian Weng, co-founder of AI startup Thinking Machines, announced she is stepping down from her role, citing health issues. In an internal Slack message, which she also shared on X, Weng stated she feels unable to maintain the pace required by a startup. After months of consideration, she acknowledged that consistent stress and workload have exceeded what her health can physically sustain.
On Wednesday, OpenAI told TechCrunch that Weng would be rejoining the company, where she previously served as VP of AI Safety Research. According to a company spokesperson, Weng will lead a top-level team aimed at accelerating OpenAI’s internal research. The team will support cross-research work on recursive self-improvement, a process that allows an AI system to iterate on itself to become more powerful.
This move may seem contradictory to Weng’s earlier statements about the impact of working at a fast-paced startup on her health. However, at a company where she is not a co-founder, she likely will face less direct pressure. Still, this high-profile departure is notable amid fierce competition for talent among AI labs.
Thinking Machines co-founder and former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati replied to Weng’s X post earlier this week, expressing support for her decision to prioritize health. It remains unclear whether Murati was aware of Weng’s plan to rejoin OpenAI.
