Thinking Machine Labs, the new startup founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, is aiming to raise $1 billion in funding at a valuation of approximately $9 billion, according to sources familiar with the matter. The funding round is still ongoing, and details may change. A spokesperson for Murati declined to comment.
Murati, who spent six and a half years at OpenAI working on projects like ChatGPT and briefly served as interim CEO, launched the startup to make AI systems more accessible and customizable. In a recent blog post, Murati described Thinking Machine Labs as an AI research and product lab focused on bridging gaps in AI accessibility and capability.
The startup has attracted top talent from OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic, including key figures like John Schulman, co-lead of ChatGPT’s development, and Barret Zoph, co-creator of ChatGPT. This high-profile team underscores the startup’s ambition to innovate in the AI space.
A $9 billion valuation for a startup less than a year old highlights the growing investor interest in AI ventures, particularly those led by former OpenAI executives.
— news from Business Insider