OpenAI Veterans Shake Up AI Again with Mira Murati’s New Startup

Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati is stepping into the AI spotlight once again with her latest venture, Thinking Machines Lab—a research and product-focused startup that aims to redefine how people interact with artificial intelligence. This new initiative is all about making AI more accessible, practical, and adaptable to individual needs, ensuring that anyone can harness its power for their own unique goals.

Murati, now serving as the chief operating officer, shared her vision on X, saying, “Our mission is clear: to push AI forward by making it truly useful and understandable. We’re committed to open science, strong foundations, and real-world applications.”

She isn’t taking this journey alone. The startup’s leadership team includes chief scientist John Schulman and chief technology officer Barret Zoph—both of whom bring deep expertise from their time at OpenAI. With this powerhouse trio leading the charge, Thinking Machines Lab is poised to make waves in the AI industry.

Inside Murati’s Lab: A New Approach to AI Innovation

Based in San Francisco, this ambitious startup is on a mission to create advanced AI models that understand both text and images while keeping human collaboration at the heart of everything. Last year, the company was reportedly in discussions to secure a $100 million investment—a testament to the belief investors have in its vision.

At its core, the company embraces the idea that “scientific progress is a collective effort.” With this philosophy, it has pledged to share its research and code with the broader AI community. Thinking Machines Labs isn’t just about building technology—it’s about contributing to a movement. The team actively publishes technical blog posts, research papers, and open-source code to ensure their discoveries benefit everyone working in the field.

Murati, the driving force behind the startup, shared a glimpse into their vision: they’re not just developing AI systems; they’re laying down the groundwork for the future of artificial intelligence. Their goal is to foster a culture of open science, one where knowledge isn’t locked behind closed doors but shared freely to push the entire industry forward.

“Right now, AI is great at things like programming and math,” the company stated, “but we want to take it further—creating systems that can truly adapt to human expertise and be used across a wider range of real-world applications.”

Interestingly, while the company doesn’t explicitly mention artificial general intelligence (AGI) or artificial superintelligence (ASI), their focus on strong foundational models suggests they are thinking far ahead. Instead of making bold claims, they are quietly building towards AI that is not just powerful but genuinely useful.

Another fascinating aspect of their approach is their commitment to open-source development. In recent years, major players like OpenAI have started embracing open-source strategies, and Thinking Machines Labs is following suit. It’s a move that signals confidence—by making their work accessible, they’re inviting scrutiny, collaboration, and innovation from the global AI community.

The startup is also looking for new talent, but not in the traditional way. While many tech companies prioritize degrees and formal education, Murati’s team values passion, creativity, and independent projects just as much. They welcome both self-taught developers and those with formal training, focusing on what candidates can actually build rather than just what’s on their resumes.

“Our team is a mix of rigorous engineering and creative exploration,” the company shared. “We want people who are excited to shape the future with us.”

This hiring philosophy reflects a growing trend in the tech world—where personal projects and hands-on experience often speak louder than degrees. It’s a sign that the industry is shifting, recognizing that real innovation comes from those who think beyond the conventional paths.

In many ways, Thinking Machines Labs feels reminiscent of OpenAI’s early days—a small, dedicated team working at the cutting edge of AI, driven by curiosity, ambition, and a desire to make a real impact. While they may not be the biggest name in the industry yet, their vision and approach suggest they might just be one to watch.

The OpenAI Mafia Keeps Expanding

OpenAI isn’t just an AI powerhouse—it’s also become a launchpad for some of the biggest new startups in the field. Nearly half of the 30 people listed at Thinking Machines Lab, a newly emerging AI company, previously worked at OpenAI. The team also includes talent from Mistral, Meta, and DeepMind.

Andrej Karpathy, one of OpenAI’s founding members, didn’t hold back his excitement. “Very strong team, a large fraction of whom were directly involved with and built the ChatGPT miracle,” he wrote on X, congratulating Murati on her bold new move.

Murati, who spent six years shaping OpenAI, made a surprising exit last October. “I’m stepping away because I want to create the time and space to do my own exploration,” she said at the time. But she wasn’t the only one. Even Schulman, who had joined Anthropic just last year, left after five months to work alongside Murati once again.

OpenAI’s alumni aren’t just leaving—they’re reshaping the AI industry. Thinking Machines Lab is just the latest in a growing list of startups sparked by former OpenAI employees.

Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s former chief scientist, also made waves by resigning and launching Safe SuperIntelligence Inc (SSI). In an astonishing three months, the company secured $1 billion in funding, backed by big names like Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross.

Meanwhile, Jan Leike, another key OpenAI executive, moved to Anthropic after stepping down. Aravind Srinivas, who had been with OpenAI back in 2018, went on to launch Perplexity AI. Even Elon Musk, who parted ways with OpenAI that same year, made a comeback in 2023 with xAI.

Anthropic itself is the brainchild of former OpenAI employees Dario and Daniela Amodei, proving that OpenAI’s talent keeps branching out in major ways. Other AI-driven ventures founded by ex-OpenAI members include Aidence (generative modeling), Cresta (AI for customer service), Cleanlab (ML dataset fixes), and Symbiote AI (3D avatars).

OpenAI isn’t just a company anymore—it’s a breeding ground for future AI founders. Just like PayPal’s early team shaped Silicon Valley’s tech landscape, OpenAI’s former employees are now defining the future of artificial intelligence.