Mira Murati, former Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI, has officially launched her new artificial intelligence venture, Thinking Machines Lab, emerging from stealth mode on Tuesday. The startup positions itself as an AI research and product laboratory dedicated to making artificial intelligence systems more accessible, customizable, and widely understood.
In a blog post announcing the launch, Murati outlined the company’s mission: “To bridge the gaps, we’re building Thinking Machines Lab to make AI systems more widely understood, customizable and generally capable.” The announcement comes just months after Murati departed from OpenAI, where she played a pivotal role in developing some of the company’s most significant products.
The startup has attracted significant venture capital interest, with investors eager to back Murati’s new endeavor from the moment she left OpenAI. Within a remarkably short timeframe, she has assembled an impressive team of machine learning researchers and engineers recruited from tech giants including Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, and other leading technology companies.
Notably, Thinking Machines Lab reunites several of Murati’s former OpenAI colleagues, creating a powerhouse team with deep expertise in cutting-edge AI development. The roster includes John Schulman, who co-led the creation of ChatGPT; Jonathan Lachman, formerly head of special projects at OpenAI; and Alexander Kirillov, who collaborated closely with Murati on ChatGPT’s voice mode.
The company’s vision emphasizes human-AI collaboration as a core principle. Murati stated the startup would “build multimodal systems that work with people collaboratively,” suggesting a focus on AI tools that augment rather than replace human capabilities. This approach aligns with growing industry discussions about responsible AI development and deployment.
AI safety represents another cornerstone of Thinking Machines Lab’s mission. Murati committed to “maintaining a high safety bar” to prevent misuse of the company’s released models. The startup plans to share best practices for building safe AI systems and contribute to external safety research, addressing one of the most pressing concerns in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
The launch of Thinking Machines Lab adds another significant player to the competitive AI startup ecosystem, with Murati’s reputation and assembled talent suggesting the company could become a major force in shaping the future of accessible, collaborative artificial intelligence systems.
Key Quotes
To bridge the gaps, we’re building Thinking Machines Lab to make AI systems more widely understood, customizable and generally capable
Mira Murati wrote this in the company’s launch blog post, articulating the core mission of her new startup and highlighting the accessibility challenges she aims to address in current AI systems.
emphasize human-AI collaboration
Murati described this as a key principle for Thinking Machines Lab, signaling a focus on AI systems that work alongside humans rather than replacing them, addressing concerns about AI’s impact on employment and human agency.
build multimodal systems that work with people collaboratively
This statement from Murati’s blog post reveals the technical direction of the startup, suggesting they will develop AI systems that can process and generate multiple types of data (text, images, audio) while maintaining human collaboration at the center of their design philosophy.
maintaining a high safety bar
Murati committed to this safety standard to prevent misuse of the company’s AI models, reflecting lessons learned from her OpenAI experience and addressing growing concerns about AI safety in the industry.
Our Take
Thinking Machines Lab’s launch is particularly noteworthy given the timing and talent involved. The reunion of key ChatGPT architects under Murati’s leadership suggests this startup could rapidly develop competitive AI products, potentially challenging OpenAI and other established players.
The emphasis on accessibility and customization is strategic, targeting a market gap where many businesses struggle to implement existing AI solutions effectively. If Thinking Machines Lab can deliver on making AI “more widely understood” and customizable, they could capture significant enterprise market share.
Most intriguing is the safety-first positioning. In an industry facing increasing regulatory scrutiny, Murati’s commitment to high safety standards and transparency could provide competitive advantages, attracting partners and customers concerned about responsible AI deployment. This approach may define a new generation of AI companies that balance innovation with accountability from inception rather than retrofitting safety measures later.
Why This Matters
The launch of Thinking Machines Lab represents a significant development in the AI industry’s evolving landscape. Mira Murati’s departure from OpenAI and subsequent startup launch signals continued fragmentation among top AI talent, with experienced leaders branching out to pursue their own visions for artificial intelligence development.
This matters because Murati brings credibility and proven expertise from her role overseeing ChatGPT’s development at OpenAI, one of the most impactful AI products in recent history. Her ability to quickly assemble a team of elite researchers from leading AI companies demonstrates both her influence and the competitive talent market in artificial intelligence.
The startup’s focus on accessibility and human-AI collaboration addresses critical gaps in current AI deployment, potentially making these powerful technologies more usable for businesses and individuals. The emphasis on AI safety and responsible development also reflects growing industry maturity around ethical concerns.
For businesses and workers, Thinking Machines Lab’s emergence suggests continued innovation in collaborative AI tools that could transform how people work. The company’s multimodal approach and safety commitments may set new standards for responsible AI development, influencing broader industry practices.
Recommended Reading
For those interested in learning more about artificial intelligence, machine learning, and effective AI communication, here are some excellent resources:
Recommended Reading
Related Stories
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Hints at Potential Restructuring in 2024
- OpenAI’s Valuation Soars as AI Race Heats Up
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s Predictions on How AI Could Change the World by 2025
- Tech Workers Are the Real Winners in the AI Talent War, With Pay Set to Soar by 2024
- Amazon to Invest Additional $4 Billion in AI Startup Anthropic
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/mira-murati-announces-new-startup-thinking-machine-labs-2025-2