OpenAI has recently seen a wave of employee departures in the past few weeks. Now, adding another name to the list, a co-lead of its video generator, Sora has also decided to move on. Taking to X, Tim Brooks, who was co-leading Sora, announced that he would be joining Google's AI research division to work on video generation tech. After working from scratch to develop Sora, Brooks is leaving everything to work with Google.
After stating that he is joining Google Deep Mind, he added that he has a great two years at OpenAI making Sora. However, his departure coincides with technical difficulties reportedly delaying the release of Sora, leaving it less competitive compared to established systems like Luma, Runway, and others.
Google introduced its video generation model, Veo, at this year’s I/O developer conference. Soon, it will be integrated into YouTube Shorts, allowing creators to generate backgrounds and short six-second clips. On the other hand, Sora is yet to be announced. In February, when the OpenAI's video generator showcased its first few videos, it shook the world with its accuracy. But, now there is hardly any talk going on around the same. As per the media reports, OpenAI is in the process of training an improved Sora that can quickly make clips. Previously, it was said that for a 1 minute clip, Sora took 10 minutes.
The departure of Tim Brooks comes after a few days of Mira Murati decision to part ways from OpenAI. It has been reported that the quitting spree was partly driven by internal conflicts and philosophical differences regarding the company's direction.
Many employees are concerned about OpenAI's shift toward commercial ventures, feeling it conflicts with its original research-focused mission. John Schulman, a co-founder of OpenAI, has left, indicating Murati's departure is part of a larger trend. Alongside other top executives like Bob McGrew, the chief research officer, Schulman's exit signals a broader leadership transition. The departure of long-serving researchers points to deeper concerns about OpenAI's direction, especially as it shifts from its roots as a nonprofit focused on research to a more profit-driven company. The leadership exodus raises questions about the sustainability of OpenAI’s rapid growth. While the company is pushing toward significant business milestones — like raising $7 billion in a new funding round — these internal tensions may cast doubt on its long-term stability.
Additionally, the departure of key figures has led competitors like Anthropic to attract talent by aligning more closely with ethical AI development. Financial incentives and a desire for more impactful roles at smaller startups also motivate some staff to leave.
