 |
| Image By DigiPlexusPro |
Andrew Tulloch, a co-founder of Thinking Machines Lab, is leaving the startup to rejoin Meta Platforms, the company confirmed. His departure marks a significant shift in the high-stakes race for AI talent, particularly given Tulloch’s history at Meta and his leadership role at the startup.
Background & Why This Move Matters
Tulloch originally spent about 11 years at Meta, working on core AI and research infrastructure before joining OpenAI and later cofounding Thinking Machines Lab alongside Mira Murati. His return underscores Meta’s aggressive recruiting of AI leadership under its new Superintelligence Labs initiative.
When he left Meta, Tulloch was seen as a rising star. Co-founding a startup and helping build a next-generation AI company made him a coveted asset hence the significance of his move back. This hire strengthens Meta’s technical bench and is a statement about its intentions in the AI arms race.
What Thinking Machines Says & What’s Ahead
Thinking Machines Lab described Tulloch’s contributions as “foundational” to their early progress and thanked him for his leadership. The company said he’s taking a new path for “personal reasons.”
At Meta, it remains unclear which team he’ll join. However, Meta is organizing its AI efforts into specialized divisions. His return could indicate that Meta wants default influence over key AI researchers or wants to ensure tighter alignment with flagship projects.
Broader Talent War & Meta’s Strategy
Meta has been aggressively recruiting AI researchers from OpenAI, DeepMind, xAI, and beyond. Their “Superintelligence Labs” is part of this push, consolidating AI efforts under a centralized infrastructure. Tulloch’s return signals that Meta is serious about winning this war at the leadership level.
Earlier, reports suggested Meta made Tulloch an offer worth up to $1.5 billion (in stock, bonuses, and performance incentives) to rejoin. Though he reportedly declined that package, his current move suggests negotiations were ongoing at a high level.
Challenges & What to Watch
- Whether Tulloch has operational autonomy or becomes tightly integrated into Meta’s AI roadmap
- Impact on Thinking Machines Lab’s momentum, talent retention, and product timeline
- What this signals to other AI founders and researchers about loyalty, influence, and equity in startups vs tech giants
- Which projects within Meta (e.g. Llama, Superintelligence Labs, AI infrastructure) he contributes to
This move adds fuel to an already intense race in AI. Talent is not just a carrot or price tag it’s becoming the signal of where future models and systems will get built, owned, and controlled.