Jonathan Lachman Leaves OpenAI to Join Mira Murati’s New AI Research Lab
High-Profile Hire
Jonathan Lachman, the former head of special projects at OpenAI, has left the organization to join a new artificial intelligence research lab founded by former OpenAI executive Mira Murati. According to two sources familiar with the discussions, this is the most significant hiring decision Murati has made since leaving OpenAI in September last year.
Murati’s New Venture
Murati’s startup, which is still in its early stages, has poached around 10 researchers and engineers from competitors including OpenAI, Character AI, and Google DeepMind. The company does not have a name or a firm product direction, according to two sources familiar with the company.
Background on Murati and Lachman
Mira Murati departed OpenAI less than a year after CEO Sam Altman was abruptly fired by the company’s board of directors in late 2023. In the turmoil that followed, the board briefly appointed Murati as the company’s interim CEO. This decision was a blow to Altman, who described it as "the low point" of the leadership crisis.
Return to OpenAI
After serving as interim CEO, Murati returned to her role as chief technology officer at OpenAI, working closely with Altman. In a recent podcast interview, Altman praised Murati’s leadership during the crisis, saying, "She did a great job during that weekend in a lot of chaos."
Other OpenAI Departures
Several other prominent OpenAI executives have left the organization in recent months, including OpenAI’s vice president of research, Barret Zoph, and chief research officer, Bob McGrew. Ilya Sutskever, an OpenAI cofounder and chief scientist, founded Safe Superintelligence, a startup focused on AI safety, and has raised $1 billion in funding.
Conclusion
The departure of Jonathan Lachman to join Mira Murati’s new AI research lab is a significant development in the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. With the departure of other high-profile executives from OpenAI, it remains to be seen what impact this will have on the organization’s future direction and goals.
FAQs
Q: What is Mira Murati’s new AI research lab focused on?
A: The lab is focused on the exploration of so-called artificial general intelligence.
Q: Who has Mira Murati poached from OpenAI and other competitors?
A: According to sources, Murati has poached around 10 researchers and engineers from OpenAI, Character AI, and Google DeepMind.
Q: What is the current status of Mira Murati’s startup?
A: The company is still in its early stages and does not have a name or a firm product direction.
Q: Why did Mira Murati leave OpenAI?
A: Murati left OpenAI to "create the time and space to do my own exploration," as stated in her goodbye letter to OpenAI employees.
