Ex-OpenAI CTO Mira Murati Unveils New AI Startup, Thinking Machines Lab

Mira Murati, former CTO of OpenAI, has launched her own AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab.

This new venture aims to close critical gaps in AI by making systems more understandable, customizable, and capable. While AI has advanced rapidly, challenges remain. The scientific community struggles to keep up with frontier AI developments. This lack of transparency hinders public discussions and prevents users from leveraging AI effectively.

To address this, Thinking Machines Lab will focus on open science, human-AI collaboration, and cutting-edge model intelligence. Moreover, the company plans to release research and code while integrating high-quality infrastructure and multimodal capabilities.

Announcing the launch on X, Murati said, “We’re building three key things: AI systems that adapt to users’ needs, strong foundations for more capable AI, and a culture of open science. Our goal is simple—advance AI by making it broadly useful and understandable.”

A Team of Top AI Experts

Thinking Machines Lab brings together leading scientists, engineers, and innovators who have shaped major AI products and libraries like Character.ai, PyTorch, and Mistral. Additionally, the team includes over 20 former OpenAI employees, such as CTO Barret Zoph, ChatGPT co-creator Andrew Tulloch, and Brydon Eastman.

Murati left OpenAI in September after six and a half years. In an internal memo, she explained her decision, stating she needed time and space for new explorations.

“For now, my focus is ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining the momentum we’ve built,” she said.

Key Takeaways

Mira Murati’s New Venture – Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati has launched Thinking Machines Lab, focusing on AI research and product development.
Bridging AI Gaps – The startup aims to make AI more understandable, customizable, and capable through open science and human-AI collaboration.
Strong Industry Team – The company includes top AI experts, including over 20 former OpenAI employees and contributors to PyTorch, Character.ai, and Mistral.