Thinking Machines Releases Inkling 2 Small AI Model With Advanced Capabilities
The new model delivers improved intelligence, multimodal capabilities and stronger performance on complex tasks as the AI startup expands its model family.
Thinking Machines Lab, the artificial intelligence startup founded by former OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati, has released a new model called Inkling 2 Small. Announced on November 5, 2026, the model represents the first release in the company’s second-generation Inkling family. It is designed to handle complex tasks involving images, reasoning and multi-step instructions, further expanding the company’s efforts to develop AI systems that can work alongside humans. The release also marks another step in Thinking Machines’ growing competition within the rapidly evolving AI industry.
According to the company, Inkling 2 Small demonstrates significant improvements over its earlier models and achieved a score of 31 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index. Its capabilities include processing visual information and carrying out extended tasks with greater independence. Thinking Machines showcased demonstrations in which the model created a city simulation game, developed a Linux PC emulator that runs inside a browser and generated an interactive walkthrough from a floor plan. These demonstrations highlight its potential for software development, creative applications and technical problem-solving.
The model is currently available through the company’s Tinker platform, where developers can experiment with it, generate responses and fine-tune it for specialised applications. However, its full model weights have not yet been publicly released. Thinking Machines says it plans to make them available under the Apache 2.0 open-source licence following external safety testing. This approach is intended to allow developers and researchers to customise the model while addressing potential safety concerns before wider distribution.
The launch strengthens Thinking Machines Lab’s position as an emerging competitor in the AI market, where companies are increasingly developing models that combine reasoning, visual understanding and autonomous task execution. Founded by Mira Murati, the company has focused on making AI systems more adaptable through its Tinker training platform and Inkling model family. The introduction of Inkling 2 Small demonstrates its continued investment in customised AI technology, although its long-term impact will depend on independent evaluations, developer adoption and how well it performs against competing models from OpenAI, Google and Anthropic.
