Mira Murati’s AI Startup Welcomes Former OpenAI Advisors

Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines Lab Welcomes New Heavyweights in AI

Mira Murati, the former CTO of OpenAI, has embarked on an exciting new journey with her startup, Thinking Machines Lab, which has just welcomed two prominent advisors: Bob McGrew, the former chief research officer at OpenAI, and Alec Radford, a renowned researcher credited with many groundbreaking advancements at OpenAI.

New Advisors Bring a Wealth of Experience

The official announcement about McGrew and Radford’s involvement surfaced on the updated Thinking Machines Lab website back in March. Although a spokesperson for the startup has not yet commented, the addition of these seasoned professionals bodes well for the company.

Bob McGrew joined OpenAI in 2017 as part of the technical staff and quickly climbed the ranks to become the chief research officer by 2024. After a significant tenure, he decided to take a break from the fast-paced AI landscape. Meanwhile, Alec Radford, who left last year to focus on independent research, played a pivotal role at OpenAI for nearly a decade. He was the mastermind behind the highly influential GPT research paper, laying the foundation for products like ChatGPT.

What’s Cooking at Thinking Machines Lab?

While specific details about the lab’s research and product goals remain a little murky, the startup announced back in February that it aims to develop tools that align AI more closely with individual user needs and ambitions. The vision is to create AI systems that are more understandable, customizable, and versatile than those available today.

Murati, who leads Thinking Machines Lab as CEO, is working alongside notable talents including OpenAI co-founder John Schulman, now serving as chief scientist, and Barret Zoph, who brings his experience as the former CTO at OpenAI.

The Power Behind the Vision

Murati’s past experiences at OpenAI, where she worked on monumental projects like ChatGPT, DALL-E, and GitHub’s Copilot, put her in a prime position to steer her new venture towards success. Saying goodbye to OpenAI in October, after over six transformative years, she appears ready to take on the challenges ahead.

Moreover, reports indicate that she was in discussions to secure over $100 million in funding from various venture capitalists—an impressive feat considering the startup has recruited talent from elite AI institutions like OpenAI and Google DeepMind.

What Lies Ahead?

As the AI landscape continues to evolve, the efforts underway at Thinking Machines Lab are poised to make a significant impact. With heavyweights like McGrew and Radford onboard, their expertise, coupled with Murati’s vision, could lead to innovative solutions that truly cater to people’s unique goals and experiences.

The AI Buzz Hub team is excited to see where these breakthroughs take us. Want to stay in the loop on all things AI? Subscribe to our newsletter or share this article with your fellow enthusiasts.