Introducing Mira Murati: Former OpenAI CTO Launching AI Startup Thinking Machines
Who is Mira Murati?
Mira Murati has become a prominent figure in Silicon Valley, particularly noted for her insights and leadership in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). In 2023 and 2024, she made headlines while navigating significant changes at OpenAI, one of the leading organizations in AI research and development. By early 2025, she was again in the spotlight for successfully raising substantial funding for her new venture, Thinking Machines Lab.
Birth and Education
Mira Murati, originally from Vlorë, Albania, pursued her studies abroad from the age of 16. She secured an academic scholarship at Pearson College in British Columbia, Canada. Murati later completed a unique dual-degree program that allowed her to earn degrees from two liberal arts schools: a Bachelor of Arts from Colby College and a Bachelor of Engineering from Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering.
After her education, she began her career with internships at prominent companies including Goldman Sachs and Zodiac Aerospace. Her practical skills were further honed at Tesla, where she worked as a product manager on the Tesla Model X.
Career Highlights
OpenAI Journey
Murati’s professional journey took a significant turn when she joined OpenAI in 2018 as Vice President of Applied AI and Partnerships. Over the years, her role evolved, and she became the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in 2022. During her tenure, she played a vital role in developing groundbreaking AI technologies like ChatGPT, the text-to-image model DALL-E, and the video generation model Sora.
Following some turmoil in late 2023, when OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman was ousted, Murati briefly stepped in as the interim CEO. This unprecedented turn of events created a media buzz, though her leadership was short-lived as Altman was reinstated after only a week. Murati publicly voiced support for Altman’s return, demonstrating her commitment to the team’s continuity.
Launching Thinking Machines Lab
After leaving OpenAI in September 2024, Murati went on to establish Thinking Machines Lab. This new AI startup is set on focusing on better collaboration between humans and AI. Though specific details about the technology in development remain under wraps, Murati’s vision is clear: she wants to make AI more accessible and beneficial to society.
Currently, Thinking Machines Lab is in the process of seeking a whopping $2 billion in seed funding, which has the potential to set a record for the largest seed round in history, with company valuations expected to soar past $10 billion.
Notable Recognition
In September 2024, Time Magazine recognized Murati as one of the 100 most influential people in AI. Moreover, Dartmouth College awarded her an honorary Doctor of Science for her contributions to making technology safer and more democratic.
Personal Insights
Mira Murati keeps aspects of her personal life private, but she occasionally shares insights into her personal interests. In a lighthearted moment at the Cannes Lions Film Festival in 2024, she mentioned her mother’s humorous inquiry to ChatGPT about when Murati would get married.
Murati also cites the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey among her inspirations, appreciating its themes of AI and human interaction. Furthermore, she aspires to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI), which aims to simulate human cognitive abilities and adaptability.
Vision for the Future
Murati has been a strong proponent of responsible AI development, emphasizing the need for regulations to prevent misuse of technology. She advocates that the responsibility for overseeing AI shouldn’t fall solely on companies like OpenAI but should involve broader regulatory engagement to ensure that AI technologies align with human values.
In her new role, she continues to champion these ideals through her work at Thinking Machines Lab, where her focus remains on driving innovation that could define the future intersection of AI and society.
