What position did Barret Zoph take at Google?

He has taken a position as vice president of research at Google, where he previously worked.

How long did Zoph stay at OpenAI before leaving?

He spent only five months at OpenAI, where he was tasked with heading AI enterprise sales, before leaving in June.

What will Zoph work on at Google?

According to a Google spokesperson, Zoph will bring his RL and post-training expertise to Gemini.

AI Business & IndustryTechCrunch AI2h agoAug 28, 2026, 06:00 JST1 min read

Barret Zoph Joins Google as VP of Research

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Key takeaway

AI executive Barret Zoph has moved to Google as VP of research.
He left OpenAI in June after five months.
The move signals continued leadership churn in AI.

3 Key Points

What happened
Barret Zoph, a co-founder of AI startup Thinking Machines who re-joined OpenAI earlier this year, has now landed at Google as vice president of research. He left OpenAI in June after only five months.
Why it matters
Zoph's move highlights the high turnover among AI executives, especially at OpenAI, which has lost several key staff over the past eight months despite preparing for an IPO and being a major tech presence.
What to watch
At Google, Zoph will bring his reinforcement learning and post-training expertise to Gemini, according to a Google spokesperson.

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Context & Analysis

Barret Zoph's career path illustrates the fluidity of AI leadership. After leaving OpenAI in October 2024 to co-found Thinking Machines with Mira Murati, he returned to OpenAI in January, only to leave again in June. His latest move to Google, where he previously worked, is notable given Google's focus on advancing Gemini with reinforcement learning and post-training techniques.

This move comes amid broader instability at OpenAI, which has lost several high-level executives over the past eight months, including its COO and a top data center exec. The high turnover rate in the AI industry, especially at OpenAI, raises questions about leadership stability as the company prepares for an IPO. Zoph's transition to Google may signal where top AI talent sees future opportunities.

FAQ

What position did Barret Zoph take at Google?: He has taken a position as vice president of research at Google, where he previously worked.
How long did Zoph stay at OpenAI before leaving?: He spent only five months at OpenAI, where he was tasked with heading AI enterprise sales, before leaving in June.
What will Zoph work on at Google?: According to a Google spokesperson, Zoph will bring his RL and post-training expertise to Gemini.

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