Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati has officially launched her own artificial intelligence startup, Thinking Machines Lab, just six months after her unexpected departure from OpenAI. The new company aims to advance AI research and development with a strong focus on AI alignment, accessibility, and customization. Murati, who played a pivotal role in OpenAI’s development, is now building a team of top-tier engineers and scientists to drive her new venture forward.
“Our goal is simple: to advance AI by making it broadly useful and understandable through solid foundations, open science, and practical applications,” Murati said in a post announcing the company’s launch on X (formerly Twitter).
A Mission to Transform AI
Thinking Machines Lab is positioning itself as a research-driven AI company dedicated to enhancing human-AI collaboration. According to the company’s website, the focus is on developing multimodal AI systems that are adaptable, flexible, and personalized rather than solely working on autonomous AI solutions.
“We’re building a future where everyone has access to the knowledge and tools to make AI work for their unique needs and goals,” reads a statement on the company’s website.
Murati emphasized three key areas in which the company seeks to make advancements:
- AI Adaptability – Enabling users to customize AI systems to meet their specific requirements.
- Strong AI Foundations – Building more capable and trustworthy AI models.
- Open Science – Promoting transparency and broad collaboration in AI research.
A Star-Studded Team of AI Experts
Murati is not alone in her ambitious endeavor. Thinking Machines Lab has recruited a formidable team of AI engineers, researchers, and product builders, many of whom have previously worked at leading AI organizations such as OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Meta, and Character.ai.
Notably, OpenAI co-founder John Schulman has joined the startup as Chief Scientist. Schulman, who was instrumental in developing reinforcement learning techniques at OpenAI, had previously joined Anthropic before making the switch to Thinking Machines Lab. Barret Zoph, another ex-OpenAI researcher, has taken on the role of CTO.
Other key members of the team include Jonathan Lachman (former OpenAI head of special projects), Lilian Weng (former OpenAI vice president), and research scientists Luke Metz, Sam Shleifer, and Stephen Roller.
Hiring for the Future
Thinking Machines Lab is actively recruiting engineers and scientists passionate about AI innovation. “We are looking for people with a strong track record of building successful AI-driven products from the ground up,” Murati shared in the company’s job postings.
The startup is hiring across three key roles:
- Product Builders – AI product developers skilled in prototyping, UI design, and real-world applications.
- Machine Learning Experts – Researchers and engineers with experience in AI scaling and open-source contributions.
- Research Program Managers – Strategic leaders to oversee team operations, manage data, and optimize projects like GPU compute planning.
The AI Industry Shakeup
Murati’s departure from OpenAI in September 2024 was one of several high-profile exits, signaling shifts within the AI industry. She had been a key figure in OpenAI’s success, particularly in the development of ChatGPT, and frequently appeared alongside OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.
“My six-and-a-half years with OpenAI have been an extraordinary privilege. We didn’t merely build smarter models; we fundamentally changed how AI systems learn and reason through complex problems,” Murati wrote in her resignation letter.
Her move to establish Thinking Machines Lab follows a similar trend seen with other ex-OpenAI leaders. Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s former Chief Scientist, recently launched his own AI company, Safe Superintelligence, which is reportedly seeking funding at a valuation of $20 billion.
A New Era for AI Innovation
Thinking Machines Lab’s emergence marks a significant moment in the AI landscape, as Murati and her team set out to challenge established players like OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic. With a team of leading AI minds and a mission centered on accessibility and open science, the startup is poised to make waves in the rapidly evolving AI industry.
As AI continues to reshape industries, Murati’s bold move reaffirms that the race to develop the most adaptable and ethical AI systems is far from over. “We’re just getting started,” she stated.
With an elite team and a clear vision, Thinking Machines Lab could become a formidable force in shaping the future of AI.
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