Days after resigning citing stress, Thinking Machines' Lilian Weng rejoins OpenAI
Lilian Weng, cofounder of Thinking Machines Lab, has rejoined OpenAI as VP of AI Safety Research just days after resigning from her startup role citing stress and illness. Weng previously served as OpenAI’s VP of research and safety and will now take on a more scoped role with less strain.
Why it matters
This event highlights the intense pressure and demanding environment within the AI startup ecosystem and the significant talent flow between major AI companies. It also underscores the growing importance of AI safety research in the industry.
Less than a week after announcing her resignation from Thinking Machines Lab citing stress and illness, cofounder Lilian Weng is now returning to work alongside OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. According to a report by Business Insider, Weng, who previously served as OpenAI’s vice president of research and safety, said she had been ill more often in the past seven months than at any other point in her life. In her farewell post, she explained that the “consistent stress and workload” of building a startup had pushed her beyond what her health could sustain.Weng’s departure came as Thinking Machines was sprinting to release its first open-weight model, Inkling. She admitted feeling “guilt” about taking sick leave during that critical period and considered narrowing her role before deciding to step away entirely. “If I cannot give it 100% for what I should be responsible for, I fail my job,” she wrote.
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