Investors interested in backing Mira Murati’s new AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab, must commit a minimum of $50 million, according to sources familiar with the deal. Murati, the former OpenAI chief technology officer, is raising approximately $2 billion at a $10 billion valuation. The funding round, led by Andreessen Horowitz, is nearing completion. A spokesperson for Thinking Machines Lab declined to comment, and details may still change. This financing round could rank among the largest seed rounds in history, reflecting investor enthusiasm for generative AI and the scarcity of technical founders with Murati’s expertise. Training AI models and retaining top talent are costly endeavors. Murati spent over six years at OpenAI, contributing to ChatGPT and other AI initiatives. Despite uncertainty about Thinking Machines Lab’s unique offerings in a competitive field, Murati envisions the startup as an AI research and product lab focused on accessibility. In a blog post, she stated the goal is to make AI systems more widely understood, customizable, and capable.
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