Mira Murati Launches New AI Lab, Thinking Machines Lab
A New Public Benefit Corporation
Last September, Mira Murati unexpectedly left her job as chief technology officer of OpenAI, citing a desire to "create the time and space to do my own exploration." Rumors swirled that she was planning to start her own company. Today, she announced that she is indeed the CEO of a new public benefit corporation called Thinking Machines Lab.
Filling the Gap in AI Understanding
Murati believes that there is a significant gap between the rapidly advancing field of AI and the public’s understanding of the technology. Even sophisticated scientists do not have a firm grasp on AI’s capabilities and limitations. Thinking Machines Lab aims to fill this gap by building accessibility into its work from the start. The company also promises to share its research by publishing technical notes, papers, and actual code.
Competing on the High End of Large Language Models
Thinking Machines Lab will compete on the high end of large language models, with a focus on developing the most advanced models that can unlock transformative applications and benefits, such as enabling novel scientific discoveries and engineering breakthroughs. The company believes that upscaling its models to the highest level is crucial to filling the gap it has identified.
Attracting a Talented Team
Murati’s pitch has attracted an impressive team of researchers and scientists, many of whom have previously worked at OpenAI. The team includes former VP of research Barret Zoph, multimodal research head Alexander Kirillov, head of special projects John Lachman, and top researcher Luke Metz, who left OpenAI several months earlier. The lab’s chief scientist will be John Schulman, a key ChatGPT inventor who left OpenAI for Anthropic only last summer. Others join from competitors like Google and Mistral AI.
Early Progress and Future Plans
The team has already started work on various projects, with a focus on developing AI models that optimize collaboration between humans and AI. This is seen as the current bottleneck in the field. While it is unclear what specific products will emerge, Thinking Machines Lab indicates that they will not be copycats of existing models like ChatGPT or Claude.
Legacy of Thinking Machines
The name "Thinking Machines" has a legacy that dates back to the 1990s, when American inventor Danny Hillis built a supercomputer with powerful chips running in parallel. Hillis’ project, also called Thinking Machines, aimed to create a partnership between people and machines, a concept that was ahead of its time.
Conclusion
Thinking Machines Lab is a new public benefit corporation founded by Mira Murati, with a mission to develop top-notch AI that is both useful and accessible. The company’s focus on accessibility, transparency, and collaboration sets it apart from other AI research organizations.
FAQs
Q: What is the focus of Thinking Machines Lab?
A: The lab is focused on developing top-notch AI that is both useful and accessible, with a focus on collaboration between humans and AI.
Q: Who is on the team?
A: The team includes experienced researchers and scientists from OpenAI, Google, and other organizations, led by CEO Mira Murati and CTO Barret Zoph.
Q: What is the goal of the lab?
A: The goal is to fill the gap between rapidly advancing AI and the public’s understanding of the technology, with a focus on developing the most advanced models that can unlock transformative applications and benefits.
Q: What is the timeline for the lab’s projects?
A: The team has already started working on various projects, with a focus on developing AI models that optimize collaboration between humans and AI. Specific products and timelines have not been announced.
