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THINKING MACHINES CO-FOUNDER JOINS OPENAI

AI DESK1 MIN READ
WED, JUL 29, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 5 SOURCES ▸ TIMELINE

Lilian Weng has left Thinking Machines citing health reasons and joined OpenAI, where she previously led AI Safety Research efforts.

Weng's departure from Thinking Machines marks a shift in the AI safety landscape. She returns to OpenAI in a move that reinforces the organization's commitment to safety research amid rapid AI development. At OpenAI, Weng previously served as VP of AI Safety Research, where she contributed to frameworks for developing safer AI systems. Her background positions her as a notable figure in the intersection of machine learning and safety protocols. Thinking Machines, a Philippines-based AI company, has not yet announced a replacement. The departure comes as the AI industry faces increasing scrutiny over safety practices and alignment challenges. Weng's return to OpenAI suggests continued focus on safety research within the organization, particularly as large language models and multimodal AI systems become more prevalent. Her expertise in AI safety research remains relevant as companies navigate the evolving regulatory and technical landscape surrounding artificial intelligence development.

■ SOURCES

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■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

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