New AI Start-up Founded by Former OpenAI CTO
Background
Mira Murati, the former chief technology officer of OpenAI, has made a surprising move to start a new artificial intelligence company called Thinking Machines Lab. This comes on the heels of her departure from OpenAI in September, amid controversy surrounding the company’s direction and leadership.
What is Thinking Machines Lab?
Thinking Machines Lab aims to make AI systems more widely understood, customizable, and generally capable, according to a blog post from the company. It plans to achieve this by freely sharing its technologies with outside researchers and companies, a practice known as "open source." The company has declined to comment on whether it has raised funding to date.
Background on Mira Murati
Mira Murati, 36, was a top executive and researcher at OpenAI. She joined the company in 2018 and was among the executives who left after the surprise ouster of OpenAI’s chief executive, Sam Altman, in November 2023. Some of them had clashed with Altman over the direction of OpenAI and its philosophy towards AI, a powerful technology with significant implications for jobs and society.
The OpenAI Controversy
OpenAI captured the world’s imagination in late 2022 with the release of ChatGPT, an online chatbot that could answer questions, write term papers, generate computer code, and mimic human conversation. However, in November 2023, four OpenAI board members ousted Altman, citing concerns over his leadership and the company’s plan to create a machine that can do anything the human brain can do. Murati was named to lead the company after Altman’s removal, but she rejected the role two days later and stayed on at OpenAI when Altman returned.
Other Former OpenAI Executives
Other former OpenAI executives, including co-founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, have since created their own AI companies. These start-ups, along with giant companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft, are part of the global race to build increasingly powerful AI technologies.
Conclusion
The emergence of Thinking Machines Lab and other AI start-ups reflects the growing importance of AI in the tech industry. As AI continues to evolve, it is likely that we will see more innovations and advancements in the field. However, it is also important to consider the potential implications of AI on jobs and society, and to ensure that its development is done in a responsible and ethical manner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Thinking Machines Lab?
A: Thinking Machines Lab is a new AI start-up founded by Mira Murati, the former chief technology officer of OpenAI.
Q: What is the purpose of Thinking Machines Lab?
A: The company aims to make AI systems more widely understood, customizable, and generally capable, and plans to achieve this by freely sharing its technologies with outside researchers and companies.
Q: Has Thinking Machines Lab raised funding?
A: The company has declined to comment on whether it has raised funding to date.
Q: What is the background of Mira Murati?
A: Mira Murati is a 36-year-old former executive and researcher at OpenAI, where she was among the top executives who left the company after the surprise ouster of its chief executive, Sam Altman.
