Mira Murati, former OpenAI CTO, launches AI startup

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Mira Murati, the former Chief Technology Officer (CTO) at OpenAI, has launched her own AI startup named Thinking Machines Lab. The company, which focuses on AI research and development, aims to tackle significant gaps in current AI technologies by making them more customizable, understandable, and capable. Murati’s vision for the new startup is to promote AI systems that cater to the unique needs of users, while advancing AI alignment and human-AI collaboration. The startup is building a strong foundation for a more capable AI that works collaboratively with people rather than functioning independently. The venture brings together experts from top companies, including OpenAI, Meta, and Mistral, to further enhance the mission.

Murati, who stepped down from her role at OpenAI in September 2024, has been vocal about her desire to explore and develop AI technologies that can serve broader needs. The startup’s main goal is to help individuals better utilize AI in everyday life, not just for specific industries or research purposes. The venture has already garnered attention for its emphasis on open science, research publication, and code sharing, which could drive advancements in AI for years to come.

1. Thinking Machines Lab’s Business Model and Objectives

Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab focuses on building a future where AI is more widely accessible, adaptable, and useful to a broad audience. The startup’s model revolves around open science, AI alignment, and human-AI collaboration. By developing state-of-the-art AI models, the company plans to empower people to adapt AI to meet their unique needs and goals.

At its core, Thinking Machines Lab aims to bridge critical gaps between AI’s rapid advancement and the scientific community’s understanding of these systems. Murati’s goal is to make these systems more transparent, understandable, and ultimately more effective in practical applications across industries.

The startup’s revenue model has not been explicitly stated yet, but the company’s reliance on cutting-edge AI technologies, such as AI alignment and multimodal capabilities, positions it as a future-facing player in the growing field of AI-driven businesses. Additionally, their commitment to open science might result in a more collaborative and inclusive environment for the development of future AI models, which could lead to new revenue streams based on partnerships, collaborations, and client-driven projects.

2. Funding Background and Support

While the startup’s initial funding details are not fully disclosed, the presence of high-profile figures from OpenAI, Meta, and Mistral in the team gives Thinking Machines Lab a strong foundation. It’s reasonable to assume that the company has secured significant venture capital backing, possibly from renowned venture capital firms or angel investors interested in the future of AI and its integration into various industries.

The company’s emphasis on collaboration, AI infrastructure, and multimodal systems suggests that they will be seeking further investment to scale their operations. Additionally, the expertise brought by former OpenAI employees—including Barret Zoph (CTO), Andrew Tulloch, and Brydon Eastman—shows that Thinking Machines Lab is poised to compete with major AI players in the industry.

3. Founders and Their Background

Mira Murati’s background is critical to the Thinking Machines Lab narrative. She was previously the CTO at OpenAI, where she played an instrumental role in developing ChatGPT, a breakthrough AI language model. Murati’s experience at OpenAI, as well as her tenure at Tesla and Leap Motion, gives her a solid understanding of both hardware and software, which will be vital in the development of multimodal AI systems.

In addition to Murati, John Schulman, a co-founder of OpenAI, has joined Thinking Machines Lab as its Chief Scientist. Schulman’s departure from OpenAI after a tenure that included significant contributions to machine learning research strengthens the lab’s research credibility. Other prominent figures include Barret Zoph, who is the CTO of Thinking Machines Lab and has worked on notable AI research projects.

4. AI Alignment and Human-AI Collaboration

A key differentiator for Thinking Machines Lab is its focus on AI alignment—the process of making AI systems compatible with human values. AI alignment has become an essential issue for researchers aiming to ensure that AI systems behave in predictable and desirable ways, without causing harm. Murati’s vision is for Thinking Machines Lab to focus not just on the development of more capable AI, but on making sure these systems can work alongside people in a reliable, safe, and effective manner.

The startup’s goal is to create multimodal AI systems that collaborate with users instead of working autonomously. This approach opens new possibilities for industries, including healthcare, finance, education, and manufacturing, where human-AI collaboration is needed for increased productivity and problem-solving.

5. Open Science and Community Engagement

Murati has made open science a core component of Thinking Machines Lab’s mission. The lab aims to contribute to the AI research community by releasing research publications, codes, and collaborating with other researchers and organizations in the field. This approach will allow others to build upon the work of Thinking Machines Lab and improve the overall understanding of AI systems.

Additionally, the lab emphasizes transparency in its models and processes, which will ensure that people not only understand how the systems work but can also adapt them to fit their specific needs.

6. The Role of Former OpenAI Employees

One of the most significant features of Thinking Machines Lab is its founding team, which includes many notable names from OpenAI. These former employees have worked on major AI projects, such as ChatGPT, Character.ai, and PyTorch. They bring deep expertise in machine learning, AI infrastructure, and model development, which positions Thinking Machines Lab to be a competitive force in the industry.

Some of the key figures in the company’s team include:

• Barret Zoph (CTO) – Previously a researcher at OpenAI and expert in machine learning.
• John Schulman (Chief Scientist) – Co-founder of OpenAI, and leading researcher in reinforcement learning.
• Lilian Weng – Former VP at OpenAI, bringing a wealth of experience in AI systems and models.

These figures ensure that the lab’s capabilities will be on par with other industry giants.

7. Future Prospects and AI’s Role in Society

Looking ahead, Thinking Machines Lab will likely focus on bridging the gap between cutting-edge AI technology and practical, real-world applications. Murati and her team plan to enhance AI systems by integrating state-of-the-art model intelligence, high-quality infrastructure, and advanced multimodal capabilities.

As AI continues to evolve, Thinking Machines Lab aims to position itself at the forefront of AI-driven innovation. The company’s approach of human-AI collaboration will likely appeal to industries that require AI models to complement human expertise, rather than replace it.

8. Learning for Startups and Entrepreneurs

The launch of Thinking Machines Lab provides several valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and startup founders, particularly in the technology sector:

1. Focus on solving real-world problems: Thinking Machines Lab addresses critical gaps in AI, positioning itself as a company that improves accessibility, adaptability, and transparency.
2. Leverage the power of open science: Encouraging collaboration through open research can accelerate innovation and drive progress across industries.
3. Create a team with diverse expertise: Collaborating with top experts from different backgrounds, including those from OpenAI, can provide your startup with the technical capabilities and experience to succeed.
4. Embrace AI alignment and safety: Focusing on AI alignment ensures that your AI systems are trustworthy and safe for practical, widespread use.

9. About The Startups News

At The Startups News, we strive to keep our readers informed on the latest startup trends, venture capital news, and business insights. If you’re looking for cutting-edge news and updates in the AI startup space, Thinking Machines Lab is a great example of how AI companies are reshaping industries. Stay tuned for more updates on the dynamic world of AI startups and the global startup ecosystem!