AI pioneer Mira Murati forges her independent path
Mira Murati, an Albanian-born engineer, has made a significant impact on the world of artificial intelligence (AI). Born in 1988, Murati moved to an international school in Canada on a scholarship at the age of 16. After graduating from Dartmouth College with a degree in mechanical engineering in 2012, she embarked on a career in tech, working at Tesla, Leap Motion, and Zodiac Aerospace before joining OpenAI in 2018.
At OpenAI, Murati played a pivotal role in the development of groundbreaking AI technologies. She was instrumental in the launch of DALL·E, ChatGPT, and Codex. In a leadership crisis at OpenAI in late 2023, Murati stepped in as interim CEO, demonstrating her ability to navigate challenging situations.
In September 2024, Murati left OpenAI to found her own AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab, which was launched in February 2025. The startup aims to develop general-purpose, accessible, and ethical AI systems to tackle global challenges like disease, climate change, and inequality.
Thinking Machines Lab's innovative approach has garnered significant attention. The company raised a record-setting $2 billion in a seed round, valuing it at $12 billion. The seed round was led by Andreessen Horowitz and featured tech heavyweights like Nvidia, Accel, Cisco, and AMD. The Albanian government is also one of the startup's biggest early investors, having revised its state budget to find €8.8 million for the investment.
Thinking Machines Lab's first product is expected in the next few months. The company is developing a multimodal AI that will interact with humans through conversation, sight, and collaboration. This AI is expected to revolutionise the way humans and machines work together.
Murati's leadership and vision have been widely respected in the AI community. Her ability to forge alliances and build strong teams is evident in her management of the $13 billion partnership with Microsoft and her successful recruitment of top researchers from OpenAI, Meta AI, and other AI firms.
Murati's personal life remains private, with her marital status not publicly disclosed. However, she is known for her strong stance on the power and dangers of AI, often speaking publicly about the need for ethical AI development.
Murati's story is a testament to the potential of AI to drive positive change and the importance of ethical considerations in its development. As Thinking Machines Lab continues to grow and innovate, Murati is poised to become a major figure in the AI industry, both in Albania and on the global stage.
[1] OpenAI press release, "Mira Murati appointed as OpenAI's Chief Technology Officer", November 2022. [2] TechCrunch, "Thinking Machines Lab raises $2 billion in seed funding, valued at $12 billion", February 2025. [3] The Verge, "Mira Murati leaves OpenAI to found Thinking Machines Lab", September 2024. [4] The New York Times, "Albanian government invests €8.8 million in Thinking Machines Lab", March 2025. [5] Wired, "Mira Murati: The AI visionary who rejected Meta's $1 billion offer", April 2025.
- Mira Murati, the founder of Thinking Machines Lab, having made a significant impact at OpenAI, was instrumental in launching AI projects like DALL·E, ChatGPT, and Codex.
- Recognizing the potential of Murati's AI startup, major investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Nvidia, Accel, Cisco, AMD, and even the Albanian government, have invested collectively $2 billion in seed funding, valuing Thinking Machines Lab at $12 billion.
- As a proponent of ethical AI development, Murati has emphasized the need for personal-finance education in AI and tech sectors and is also involved in the world of finance, having led a $13 billion partnership with Microsoft and successfully recruited top finance-focused researchers.
- With her innovative approach to AI technology, Murati is not only shaping the business landscape of Albania but also the global AI industry, using technological advancements for societal advancement, tackling challenges such as disease, climate change, and inequality.
