Mirror Review
October 16, 2025
Meta’s latest hiring spree shows how far Big Tech will go to secure the brightest minds in artificial intelligence.
In their latest ambitious move, Meta has poached Andrew Tulloch, co-founder of Thinking Machines Lab, in a deal reportedly worth up to $1.5 billion over six years.
Under Mark Zuckerberg’s vision, Meta is spending enormous amounts on its AI talent to compete with OpenAI and Google DeepMind, validating the global race for intelligence systems.
This highlights the soaring value of AI talent and how leading researchers are being offered amounts that rival can’t compete with.
Here are some rare Andrew Tulloch facts that reveal who he really is—the engineer, the thinker, and the leader behind some of the world’s most advanced AI systems.
1. Began His Career on Wall Street
Before entering the tech world, Tulloch worked at Goldman Sachs in Sydney as a strategist.
He developed and structured financial products and applied statistical models to detect trading opportunities across global markets.
This analytical foundation in finance shaped his precision-driven approach to machine learning.
2. Excelled at Cambridge with Top Distinction
Tulloch earned his Master of Mathematical Statistics from the University of Cambridge in 2014, graduating with distinction (the highest grade in the program).
He was also awarded a Trinity College prize for achieving the top examination score, establishing his reputation as a top-tier mathematician early on.
3. Awarded the University Medal in Sydney
At the University of Sydney, Andrew Tulloch completed his Bachelor of Science (Advanced Mathematics) with First Class Honours.
He received the University Medal and the Science Achievement Prize for having the highest GPA in the entire Faculty of Science, a recognition reserved for the best of the best.
4. Spent 11 Years Shaping Meta’s AI Systems
Tulloch joined Meta (then Facebook) in 2012 and spent over a decade developing large-scale machine learning systems.
He was a key contributor to PyTorch, Meta’s open-source framework that has since become an industry standard for AI research and development worldwide.
5. Played a Key Role in OpenAI’s GPT Projects
In 2023, Tulloch joined OpenAI as a Member of Technical Staff, working on the GPT-4o and GPT-4.5 pretraining programs
His focus on model reasoning and optimization contributed to the improved accuracy and efficiency of the GPT series, which is used globally in products like ChatGPT and other AI assistants.
6. Co-founded Thinking Machines Lab in 2025
Tulloch co-founded Thinking Machines Lab in early 2025, an AI research startup focused on advanced reasoning and scalable machine learning infrastructure.
The lab quickly gained attention for pushing boundaries in general-purpose AI design, making it one of the most promising independent labs before Meta acquired his expertise.
7. Known as a Mentor and Responsible Innovator
Beyond his technical skills, Tulloch is known for mentoring younger engineers and encouraging responsible AI development.
Colleagues describe him as a calm, thoughtful, and deeply principled leader who values collaboration and ethics as much as innovation.
The Big Picture: Talent Is the New Currency
These facts about Andrew Tulloch prove that he is more than just a high-profile hire. It reflects how AI expertise has become the most valuable resource in tech.
As companies race to build smarter, more capable systems, one thing is clear: the minds behind these models are becoming the most valuable assets of all.
