Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati is rapidly building her new AI venture, recruiting at least 10 high-profile researchers and engineers from leading AI companies including OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Character AI. Since leaving OpenAI in fall 2024, Murati has moved swiftly to establish what sources indicate will be called Thinking Machine Labs, engaging in fundraising discussions with venture capitalists eager to back her next project.
Murati’s six-and-a-half-year tenure at OpenAI was marked by significant contributions to ChatGPT development and other groundbreaking AI research initiatives. She notably served as interim CEO in November 2023 during the tumultuous period when Sam Altman was briefly ousted by OpenAI’s board, before returning to her CTO role following his reinstatement.
Among the notable departures to join Murati’s startup is John Schulman, an OpenAI co-founder who led ChatGPT’s creation and co-led the post-training team. Schulman initially left OpenAI in August 2024 for Anthropic to focus on AI alignment and hands-on technical work, but departed Anthropic approximately six months later to join Murati’s venture.
Barret Zoph, who ran OpenAI’s critical post-training team responsible for preparing AI models for release, left simultaneously with Murati in fall 2024 and is now part of her team. Luke Metz, who worked on ChatGPT alongside Zoph and Schulman, departed OpenAI in October 2024 after two years and joined the new startup.
Other key recruits include Jonathan Lachman, former head of special projects at OpenAI who left in November 2024 after 18 months; Mianna Chen, a research program manager focused on model preparation; Christian Gibson from OpenAI’s supercomputing team; and Mario Saltarelli, an IT manager with over five years at OpenAI.
Murati joins a growing list of former OpenAI executives launching independent AI ventures. Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s former chief scientist and co-founder, started Safe Superintelligence Inc. shortly after leaving in May 2024. Dario and Daniela Amodei founded Anthropic in 2021 after their OpenAI tenure. This wave of departures, combined with OpenAI’s planned conversion to a for-profit structure, underscores the evolving landscape and internal tensions within the ChatGPT maker. Neither OpenAI nor Murati’s representatives responded to requests for comment.
Key Quotes
made these decisions independently of each other
Sam Altman wrote this on X in September 2024 regarding the simultaneous departures of Murati, Zoph, and Bob McGrew. This statement attempts to downplay concerns about coordinated exits, though subsequent events suggest these individuals are now collaborating at Murati’s new venture.
hands-on technical work" and “focus on AI alignment
John Schulman explained his initial reasons for leaving OpenAI for Anthropic in August 2024. His subsequent move to Murati’s startup suggests he found a better opportunity to pursue these goals, highlighting the appeal of smaller, mission-driven AI ventures.
Our Take
The formation of Thinking Machine Labs represents more than just another AI startup—it’s a referendum on OpenAI’s evolution from research lab to commercial powerhouse. The caliber of talent Murati has attracted, particularly Schulman’s decision to leave Anthropic after just six months, suggests her vision resonates deeply with researchers concerned about AI safety and alignment. This brain drain poses real challenges for OpenAI, as these individuals possess institutional knowledge about ChatGPT’s architecture and training methodologies. The timing is particularly significant given OpenAI’s controversial restructuring plans and ongoing leadership questions. We’re witnessing the AI industry’s maturation through creative destruction—established players losing talent to nimbler competitors who promise more autonomy and alignment with researchers’ values. The venture capital community’s enthusiasm for backing Murati indicates strong market confidence in experienced AI leaders building alternatives to existing giants.
Why This Matters
This exodus of top-tier AI talent from OpenAI signals a pivotal moment in the artificial intelligence industry’s competitive landscape. Murati’s ability to attract co-founders and senior researchers who built ChatGPT demonstrates both her influence and the appeal of starting fresh outside OpenAI’s increasingly complex corporate structure. The departure of key figures like Schulman, who co-founded OpenAI and led ChatGPT development, represents a significant brain drain that could impact OpenAI’s innovation pipeline.
This trend reflects broader tensions within leading AI companies as they navigate the transition from research-focused organizations to profit-driven enterprises. The fact that multiple executives are choosing to launch competing ventures suggests dissatisfaction with OpenAI’s direction, particularly its planned for-profit conversion. For the AI industry, this fragmentation of talent could accelerate innovation through increased competition, but also raises questions about resource concentration and the ability of newer ventures to compete with well-funded incumbents. The focus on AI alignment and safety among several departing researchers also highlights ongoing debates about responsible AI development priorities.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/openai-employees-joining-mira-murati-new-startup-2025-2