Mira Murati Launches Rival AI Start-up
Mira Murati, the former chief technology officer of OpenAI, has launched a new artificial intelligence start-up, Thinking Machines Lab. This new venture aims to make AI systems more widely understood, customisable, and capable.
Mission Statement
According to a blog post on its website, Thinking Machines Lab’s mission is to "make AI systems more widely understood, customisable and generally capable." The company believes that knowledge of how AI systems are trained is concentrated within the top research labs, limiting both the public discourse on AI and people’s abilities to use AI effectively.
Team and Partnerships
Thinking Machines Lab has poached senior former OpenAI employees, including co-founder John Schulman, Jonathan Lachman, former head of special projects, and Barret Zoph, former vice-president. The company has also hired researchers and engineers with experience at other competitors such as Google, Meta, Mistral, and Character AI. These experts will build models focused on science and programming.
Research and Collaboration
Thinking Machines Lab believes that scientific progress is a collective effort. The company plans to publish technical blog posts, papers, and code, as it believes that sharing its work will not only benefit the public but also improve its own research culture.
History with OpenAI
Mira Murati worked at OpenAI for over six years, leading the company’s efforts to build ChatGPT as a standalone product and working on technical breakthroughs from the company’s large language models. In November 2023, OpenAI’s directors appointed Murati as interim chief executive after removing founder Sam Altman under claims he was not "sufficiently candid" with the board. Altman returned days later after protests from employees and investors.
Conclusion
Thinking Machines Lab is an exciting new development in the AI industry, with a focus on making AI systems more accessible and capable. With a team of experienced researchers and engineers, the company is poised to make a significant impact in the field. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how Thinking Machines Lab contributes to the conversation and advancements in the field.
FAQs
Q: What is the mission of Thinking Machines Lab?
A: The mission of Thinking Machines Lab is to make AI systems more widely understood, customisable, and capable.
Q: Who is behind Thinking Machines Lab?
A: Mira Murati, the former chief technology officer of OpenAI, is the founder of Thinking Machines Lab.
Q: What is the team like at Thinking Machines Lab?
A: The team at Thinking Machines Lab includes senior former OpenAI employees, as well as researchers and engineers with experience at other competitors.
Q: What is the focus of the company’s research?
A: The company’s research will focus on science and programming, with a goal of making AI systems more widely understood and capable.
Q: What is the company’s approach to sharing knowledge?
A: Thinking Machines Lab plans to publish technical blog posts, papers, and code, believing that sharing its work will improve its own research culture and benefit the public.
