Who is Andrew Tulloch? Former OpenAI engineer and Mira Murati's co-founder who rejected a $1.5 billion offer from Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg
to rejoin Meta. A former OpenAI engineer, Tulloch is now the co-founder of Thinking Machines Lab alongside ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati.
The AI startup, still in its early stages, is already valued at $12 billion.
Tulloch's decision to decline Zuckerberg's aggressive recruitment attempt reflects a broader trend of top AI talent prioritizing independence, mission-driven work, and long-term impact over staggering financial packages.
Andrew Tulloch: From Wall Street to the frontier of AI
Tulloch's journey began at the University of Sydney, where he graduated with first-class honours and a University Medal in mathematics.
He later earned a Master's in Mathematical Statistics from Cambridge and pursued a PhD at UC Berkeley. Tulloch worked at Meta (then Facebook) from 2012 to 2023, contributing to machine learning systems and the development of PyTorch. He joined OpenAI in 2023, focusing on GPT-4 pretraining and reasoning models, before co-founding Thinking Machines Lab in early 2025.
Co-founded with Mira Murati, Thinking Machines Lab is focused on building AI systems that are safer, interpretable, and customizable—going beyond traditional chatbot interfaces.
The startup, though yet to release a product, has secured a $2 billion seed round with backing from Andreessen Horowitz, Nvidia, AMD, and Google Cloud. Its ambition and leadership have made it a top target for recruitment, especially from Zuckerberg's new "superintelligence" division at Meta.
Mark Zuckerberg's offer and Tulloch's viral rejection
According to The Wall Street Journal, Zuckerberg personally tried to lure Tulloch back to Meta with a six-year offer worth up to $1.5 billion, contingent on bonuses and stock performance. Tulloch declined, joining other Thinking Machines Lab co-founders in resisting Meta's poaching attempts. The bold rejection has gone viral, with Tulloch's LinkedIn profile celebrated for charting a rare career driven by principles rather than payouts.
Meta later disputed the exact terms of the offer but confirmed outreach efforts were made.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
6 minutes ago
- Hans India
OpenAI Reportedly Planning Affordable 'Go' ChatGPT Plan Ahead of GPT-5 Launch
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, appears to be developing a new subscription tier aimed at users looking for a more affordable AI experience. The potential new offering, reportedly named 'Go', is expected to fall below the current Plus ($20/month) and Pro ($200/month) plans, making ChatGPT more accessible to a wider audience. The first hint of this new pricing option emerged from a user named Tibor Bhaho on X (formerly Twitter), who shared a screenshot suggesting internal references to the 'Go' tier in the ChatGPT web app's source code. While OpenAI hasn't officially confirmed its plans, the timing coincides with rising anticipation surrounding the upcoming release of GPT-5. Currently, ChatGPT offers a free tier, the Plus plan, which provides access to advanced models like GPT-4-turbo, and the Pro plan designed for developers and power users. If the Go tier comes to market, it could fill a key middle ground — offering more functionality than the free version while being lighter on the wallet compared to existing paid options. What features the Go plan might include remains unclear. Industry observers speculate that it could provide access to simplified or smaller model variants such as o3 or o4-mini-high, potentially excluding high-end tools like OpenAI's agent features or the video generation tool Sora. In this way, OpenAI may strike a balance between affordability and capability, catering to casual users without overwhelming infrastructure or licensing costs. Beyond pricing changes, OpenAI seems to be quietly experimenting with new interface features as well. Some users have noticed additions like a 'Favourites' tab and a 'Pin chat' option, which could help users manage and retrieve past conversations more easily. These features, however, appear to be part of limited testing and have not been rolled out broadly. Meanwhile, excitement around GPT-5 continues to build. OpenAI has been working on the next-generation AI model for months, though its release timeline has reportedly been delayed several times due to internal safety reviews and performance evaluations. Speaking recently on a podcast with comedian Theo Von, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman hinted that GPT-5 is nearing its debut. Sharing a personal moment with the model, Altman said, 'It was a weird feeling,' after GPT-5 answered a complex question faster and more accurately than he could. 'It responded instantly and correctly,' he added, noting how the interaction gave him a glimpse of the technology's potential. As competition in the AI space intensifies, OpenAI's rumored budget offering could be a strategic move to expand its user base and maintain relevance across diverse user segments. While code-level discoveries like this often point to features in development, there's always a chance plans could shift. Until OpenAI issues an official announcement, the details around the Go plan — including its launch date and exact capabilities — remain speculative.
Hans India
36 minutes ago
- Hans India
Inside Meta's Superintelligence Mission: Zuckerberg's AI Power Move with Tech's Top Talent
In the fast-moving world of AI, Meta is turning heads with the formation of its new elite unit — Meta Superintelligence Labs — an ambitious initiative launched by CEO Mark Zuckerberg to build the most advanced artificial intelligence system on the planet. With a goal to develop "personal superintelligence", this team is already drawing industry-wide attention for its bold vision and record-breaking hiring deals. At the heart of this initiative is Alexandr Wang, the former CEO of Scale AI, now serving as Meta's Chief AI Officer. Meta had previously invested $14.3 billion in Wang's company and has since brought him onboard to lead its AI revolution. Following Wang's entry, Meta has gone on a talent acquisition spree, poaching experts from industry rivals like OpenAI, Google, Apple, DeepMind, and Anthropic. The concept of 'superintelligence' at Meta goes beyond traditional artificial general intelligence (AGI). According to Zuckerberg, it's not just about making machines smarter — it's about creating AI that integrates seamlessly into everyday life, enhancing human potential rather than replacing it. In a recent blog post, he explained, 'Personal intelligence can help us achieve our goals and will be by far the most useful.' Imagine smart glasses that not only hear and see what you do, but also respond intelligently to your needs throughout the day. That's the kind of technology Meta envisions — devices that become so useful, opting out could feel like falling behind cognitively. 'The ultimate goal is to empower individuals, not just automate work,' Zuckerberg says. 'Meta's vision is to bring personal superintelligence to everyone.' To make this vision real, Meta is pouring billions into hiring top-tier AI talent. Reports suggest that salaries for some recruits range from $10 million to a staggering $200 million annually — a declaration of open salary warfare in Silicon Valley. Among the prominent names in Meta's AI roster: · Shengjia Zhao, a co-creator of ChatGPT, is now a lead scientist at Meta Superintelligence Labs. · Ruoming Pang, formerly Apple's head of AI models, reportedly joined for a jaw-dropping $200 million package. · Trapit Bansal, an OpenAI veteran, is said to have been offered around $100 million. · Nat Friedman, ex-GitHub CEO, is co-leading the initiative with Wang. · AI experts Shuchao Bi, Ji Lin, and Jiahui Yu — all with deep OpenAI experience — have also come on board. Additional key hires include Joel Pobar, Jack Rae, Pei Sun, and Johan Schalkwyk, each bringing expertise in large-scale AI systems, voice recognition, and multimodal learning. But while Zuckerberg's pivot to AI is bold, critics remain cautious. His earlier mega-investment in the metaverse — which even led to the rebranding of Facebook to Meta — has yet to meet expectations. Virtual reality, once his top bet, remains a niche. Now, with AI as the new frontier, some tech leaders are skeptical. Alibaba Cloud founder Wang Jian recently remarked, 'The only thing you need to do is get the right person, not necessarily an expensive person… true innovation comes from talent nobody is watching.' Whether Meta's superintelligence vision will redefine AI or repeat past missteps remains to be seen. One thing is certain: Zuckerberg is betting big — and he's not holding back.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Subterranean tunnels, safe rooms, and seclusion: Inside Mark Zuckerberg's massive Koolau Ranch in Hawaii
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg owns a massive estate in Hawaii that continues to spark public interest and local backlash. It began in 2014, when Zuckerberg purchased 700 acres on the lush north shore of Kauai for $100 million. Over the next decade, that initial investment quietly expanded into a secluded 2,300-acre property now known as Koolau Ranch—an ultra-private compound that has become a lightning rod in discussions about land ownership, cultural preservation, and wealth inequality in Hawaii. From Modest Buy to Massive Stronghold What started as one of Hawaii's most high-profile land deals soon grew through a series of discreet acquisitions. By strategically purchasing adjacent plots, Zuckerberg stitched together what is now one of the largest privately owned estates on the island. Koolau Ranch spans agricultural fields, conservation zones, and heavily secured residential complexes. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program According to building permits, aerial surveys, and investigative reports, the estate features at least two main homes connected by underground tunnels. Scattered throughout the property are guest accommodations, wellness centers, and additional facilities—many of them hidden from view. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like War Thunder - Register now for free and play against over 75 Million real Players War Thunder Play Now Undo One of the most striking features is a 5,000-square-foot underground bunker, reportedly outfitted with reinforced doors, emergency exits, and safe rooms. For perspective, the bunker alone is nearly the size of an NBA basketball court and more than double the area of an average American home. The estate reportedly includes self-sufficient energy and food systems. Dozens of Buildings, Treehouses, and Rope Bridges Reports claim that Koolau Ranch includes a dozen buildings with at least 30 bedrooms and 30 bathrooms in total. Guest houses and operational facilities are said to be connected via rope bridges, and the property also features 11 disc-shaped treehouses. One structure is reportedly designed to include a full-sized gym, multiple swimming pools, a sauna, hot tub, cold plunge, and even a tennis court. Live Events While Zuckerberg's representatives emphasize sustainable architecture and a commitment to the environment and local communities, the project's secretive nature—reinforced by non-disclosure agreements signed by staff—has only fueled curiosity and suspicion. Cultural Tensions and Ethical Questions Despite promises of responsible land use, many Native Hawaiians view the Koolau Ranch development as a symbol of cultural erasure and the growing inaccessibility of ancestral lands. Critics argue that estates of this magnitude contribute to inflated property prices and displacement of local residents. The broader conversation around Koolau Ranch reflects a deeper societal divide. Supporters cite the philanthropic efforts of Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan—such as a $75 million donation to a hospital in San Francisco—while detractors question the optics and ethics of tech billionaires building hyper-private retreats in places rich with cultural significance.
