Thinking Machine Labs’ new Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Soumis Chintala is an Indian computer scientist, entrepreneur, and AI researcher who has become a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence.
He is known worldwide for his contributions to deep learning and open source software, and has played a key role in shaping the tools that drive modern AI research and applications. In 2026, Chintala was appointed CTO of Thinking Machines Lab, an AI startup co-founded by former OpenAI executive Mira Murati. His appointment is expected to influence the company’s research direction and technological growth in the coming years.
Soumith Chintala was born and raised in Hyderabad, India. He showed a strong aptitude for mathematics and computing from an early age, which led him to pursue higher education in technology. He completed his bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), one of India’s premier engineering institutions.
After completing his bachelor’s degree, Chintala moved to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in computer science at New York University (NYU), focusing on research in artificial intelligence and deep learning. His early academic experiences may have influenced his approach to AI development and open source collaboration, but the specific influence is not fully documented.
Read: Indian-American AI pioneer Soumith Chintala leaves Meta (
career in meta
Mr. Chintala spent 11 years at Meta (formerly Facebook), where he held several senior technology leadership positions, including Vice President of AI Infrastructure. During his tenure, he was deeply involved in building and extending AI research tools to enable engineers and researchers to efficiently develop advanced machine learning models. He is best known for his role in co-creating PyTorch, an open source deep learning framework widely used in academia and industry for AI research and production.
PyTorch and open source contributions
Chintala’s work on PyTorch has revolutionized the way researchers build and experiment with AI models. His contributions focus on creating frameworks that are both flexible and efficient, allowing developers to write intuitive code while maintaining high performance on modern hardware such as GPUs. PyTorch’s popularity is a testament to Chintala’s vision of open source software that democratizes AI development.
Thinking Machines Lab and the CTO role
After leaving Meta in November 2025, Chintala joined the Thinking Machines Lab as part of its technical staff. Co-founded by Mira Murati, the institute focuses on advancing artificial intelligence research and developing cutting-edge AI products.
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In 2026, Chintala was appointed CTO and was responsible for defining the company’s technology strategy, overseeing its research direction, and expanding the Institute’s AI infrastructure. The specific innovations and products he will oversee and their broader impact on the AI industry remain unclear.
Chintala is widely known for his contributions to AI research, software engineering, and open source tools. He has influenced countless researchers, developers, and startups by co-developing PyTorch and leading major AI initiatives at Meta. The long-term impact of his work at Thinking Machines Lab and his potential role in shaping AI policy, industry standards, and future technologies are yet to be determined.
Chintala’s career reflects the growing intersection of technical expertise, leadership, and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence. The transition from hands-on research and framework development to the C-suite highlights how deep technical knowledge can translate into strategic guidance for AI-focused organizations. Chintala’s influence extends beyond the tools and frameworks he created to shape how AI is implemented, adopted, and scaled across industries.
