Lilian Weng flips from Thinking Machines to OpenAI after saying the startup's pace hurt her health (www.businessinsider.com)

Lilian Weng, a cofounder of the AI startup Thinking Machines Lab, has announced her departure from the company to rejoin OpenAI, where she will lead a team aimed at enhancing internal research. Weng's decision follows a challenging period at the startup, where she felt the demanding pace adversely affected her health. In her statement, she expressed the need for a role that offers more predictability and stability, distancing herself from the intense responsibilities of cofoundership. Her return to OpenAI is significant as it aligns with the organization's ongoing effort to develop AI systems capable of self-improvement. Weng's extensive background, including her previous work on OpenAI's GPT-4 model, positions her well to contribute to cutting-edge research and team building. The departure of Weng and several other cofounders from Thinking Machines highlights ongoing staff changes within the startup, raising questions about its stability and future direction in a competitive AI landscape.