In what might be the fastest career boomerang in AI history, OpenAI has welcomed back former executive Barret Zoph just days after he was fired from Mira Murati's startup, Thinking Machines Lab. The circumstances surrounding his departure are, to put it mildly, contested.

A Messy Split With Competing Narratives

Technology reporter Kylie Robison broke the news on X Wednesday, describing Zoph's dismissal as stemming from "unethical conduct." Murati confirmed his departure on the platform and announced that Soumith Chintala would take over as chief technology officer.

According to someone familiar with the situation who spoke to Wired, Zoph allegedly shared confidential company information with competing firms. The timeline was remarkably compressed: Zoph told Murati on Monday he was considering leaving, and by Wednesday, he was out.

OpenAI Wastes No Time

OpenAI CEO of applications Fidji Simo announced on X that both Zoph and Luke Metz are returning to the company. Zoph reshared the post, saying he's "super excited" about the move.

In a memo to staff reviewed by Wired, Simo made OpenAI's position clear: the company doesn't share Murati's concerns about Zoph. That's about as direct as corporate statements get in disputes like these.

Talent Drain Continues For Thinking Machines

These latest exits compound difficulties for Murati's well-funded venture. The startup already lost co-founder Andrew Tulloch to Meta Platforms Inc. (META) last year, and now it's down two more senior technical leaders.

Despite the turmoil, Thinking Machines remains ambitious. Currently valued at $12 billion, the company is reportedly in discussions to raise more than $4 billion at a $50 billion valuation. Whether this week's drama affects those fundraising conversations remains to be seen.