Finbarr Timbers, formerly of the Allen Institute for AI, joins Microsoft Superintelligence to focus on post-training and tool use
Story Overview
AI researcher Finbarr Timbers has moved from the Allen Institute for AI into Microsoft Superintelligence, where his role centers on post-training methods with a clear emphasis on tool use. His earlier stints at DeepMind and Midjourney add depth in reinforcement learning and model scaling, yet the announcement gives no further details on timeline, team size, or specific projects underway.
What the hire reveals about Microsoft's priorities
The focus on post-training and tool use lines up with broader efforts to build agentic systems that can interact with external tools, though how quickly this translates into shipped features remains unclear.
Open questions around team momentum
Public reactions from colleagues highlight a warm welcome on his second day, but no statements address compensation trends, retention challenges, or how this fits into larger AI org changes at the company.
Many users congratulated Finbarr Timbers on joining Microsoft Superintelligence to work on post-training, expressing excitement about his future contributions there.
Most Activity
@finbarrtimbers congratulations!
Today was my second day at Microsoft Superintelligence, where I’ll be working on post-training, with a particular focus on tool use.
@finbarrtimbers woohoo congrats!
@finbarrtimbers MooOoOOoOOOO!!!!!!!!!! my man
Today was my second day at Microsoft Superintelligence, where I’ll be working on post-training, with a particular focus on tool use.
@finbarrtimbers welcome!
@finbarrtimbers 👷♂️🧰 welcome!!
Today was my second day at Microsoft Superintelligence, where I’ll be working on post-training, with a particular focus on tool use.
@finbarrtimbers Congratulations!
Today was my second day at Microsoft Superintelligence, where I’ll be working on post-training, with a particular focus on tool use.
@finbarrtimbers congrats!
@finbarrtimbers congrats, excited to see what you cook!!
Today was my second day at Microsoft Superintelligence, where I’ll be working on post-training, with a particular focus on tool use.
@finbarrtimbers Congratulations!!
@finbarrtimbers Congrats, they’re lucky to have you!
@finbarrtimbers Congrats, that's awesome!
@smehmood @finbarrtimbers Love this friendship
@finbarrtimbers congrats Finbarr!
@finbarrtimbers super cool! congrats!
Today was my second day at Microsoft Superintelligence, where I’ll be working on post-training, with a particular focus on tool use.
@stochasticchasm Thank you!!
@graftedgs Thank you!
@soldni 🔨🔧🪛🪚
Thank you!
@finbarrtimbers How many months/weeks until “personal update”?
@braeden_norris Thank you!
@finbarrtimbers Gooooooo Finbarr !