Barret Zoph is out at OpenAI again after just five months

Barret Zoph departed OpenAI for the second time on June 10, 2024, after rejoining the company in mid-January 2024. Zoph's most recent role at OpenAI was as the head of enterprise AI sales. Prior to his return, Zoph served as co-founder and CTO of Thinking Machines Lab, an AI company established by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati. His initial departure from OpenAI occurred in 2023, after which he co-founded Thinking Machines Lab. The Verge reported Zoph's departure, noting that his return was intended to bolster OpenAI's enterprise business efforts. OpenAI has experienced several high-profile departures and leadership changes in recent years, including the ousting and subsequent return of CEO Sam Altman in late 2023. Zoph's departure comes at a time when OpenAI is reportedly facing increased scrutiny and competition within the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence sector.