OpenAI, a leading AI company, has recently made changes to its leadership team in order to strengthen its position in the competitive AI market. The company has appointed Barret Zoph to lead its efforts in selling AI technology to businesses, as reported by The Information. Zoph, who previously served as the vice president of post-training inference at OpenAI, returned to the company after his stint at Thinking Machine Labs.
The circumstances of Zoph’s departure from Thinking Machine Labs are unclear, with rumors circulating about whether he was fired or left voluntarily. Regardless, his return to OpenAI signals a new chapter for the company as it aims to expand its enterprise business and compete with other industry players.
OpenAI launched ChatGPT Enterprise in 2023, attracting millions of business users and securing partnerships with companies like SoftBank, Target, and Lowe’s. Despite its early entry into the enterprise market, OpenAI has been losing market share to competitors like Anthropic and Google. Anthropic currently holds a dominant 40% market share in large language model usage, while Google’s Gemini product has seen steady growth since its release.
In contrast, OpenAI’s market share has dropped from 50% in 2023 to 27% in 2025, a trend that has raised concerns within the company. CEO Sam Altman has acknowledged the threat posed by competitors like Google Gemini in an internal memo, highlighting the need for OpenAI to focus on enterprise growth in 2026.
To address this challenge, OpenAI’s CFO Sarah Friar recently emphasized the company’s commitment to expanding its presence in the enterprise market. A key development in this regard is the multi-year partnership with ServiceNow, which will provide ServiceNow customers with access to OpenAI models for enhanced AI outcomes.
Overall, OpenAI’s strategic shifts in leadership and partnerships reflect its determination to regain market share and solidify its position as a leading provider of AI solutions for businesses. The company’s focus on enterprise growth in 2026 signals a new chapter in its evolution as it seeks to stay ahead of the competition in the dynamic AI landscape.
