Thinking Machines releases Inkling 2 Small AI model

Thinking Machines Lab, an AI startup founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, has released its latest model, Inkling 2 Small. The model features 594 billion parameters and supports image input, though it produces text-only output.

According to benchmark firm Artificial Analysis, the model is expected to perform at levels comparable to Chinese AI models, which have recently gained market share through high-performing open models like DeepSeek. Thinking Machines plans to release the model weights next week, a move that could position Inkling 2 Small as one of the highest-scoring open-weight models developed outside of China.

The model is designed for efficiency and scalability, with specific improvements noted in coding capabilities and usability within agent loops. It is intended to handle demanding AI training tasks while optimizing computational costs.