Barret Zoph Joins Google as VP of Research After 5-Month Return to OpenAI
Updated
Updated · TechCrunch · Aug 27
Barret Zoph Joins Google as VP of Research After 5-Month Return to OpenAI
3 articles · Updated · TechCrunch · Aug 27
Summary
Google hired Barret Zoph as vice president of research, bringing back a former employee months after he left OpenAI in June.
Five months into his second OpenAI stint, Zoph exited a role leading AI enterprise sales after returning in January from startup Thinking Machines.
Google said Zoph will bring reinforcement learning and post-training expertise to Gemini, underscoring the strategic value of his research background.
Zoph’s latest move extends a rapid chain of AI executive reshuffling that began when he left OpenAI in October 2024 to co-found Thinking Machines with Mira Murati.
OpenAI has faced especially heavy turnover over the past 8 months, losing senior leaders even as it prepares for an IPO.