Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati Launches New AI Venture, Raising Capital for Proprietary Models

Mira Murati, the former Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI, is making headlines with her new artificial intelligence (AI) start-up. Sources familiar with the matter indicate that Murati is in the process of raising capital from venture capitalists to fund her new venture, which aims to develop AI products based on proprietary models. This development has sparked significant interest in the tech industry, as Murati’s expertise and her leadership role at OpenAI in developing groundbreaking projects like ChatGPT and DALL-E have positioned her as a central figure in the field of AI.

Murati’s departure from OpenAI in late September 2024, after six years of spearheading transformative AI projects, came as a surprise to many. Her resignation marked a period of major shifts within the company as OpenAI restructured its governance and transitioned away from its non-profit board model. The move also coincided with other high-profile exits from OpenAI, which, combined with Murati’s new venture, hints at potential shifts in the competitive landscape of the AI industry.

Raising Over $100 Million: A Strategic Move

While details about Murati’s new start-up remain sparse, sources have indicated that she is in the early stages of raising capital, with estimates suggesting the company could secure over $100 million in funding. The scale of this potential fundraising highlights the capital-intensive nature of building proprietary AI models, which require extensive computational resources, data, and talent. Given Murati’s reputation and track record, it is likely that venture capitalists will be eager to back her new venture, even at an early stage.

Developing proprietary AI models is no small feat, especially in a competitive landscape where companies like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic are continually pushing the boundaries of AI research and application. Murati’s expertise in developing and scaling products such as GPT and DALL-E will no doubt be instrumental in this new endeavor, as she seeks to carve out a niche for her company in an increasingly crowded market.

A representative for Murati declined to comment on the specifics of her fundraising efforts, and it is still unclear whether Murati will assume the role of CEO at the new start-up. However, industry insiders believe that her leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping the direction of the company.

Collaboration with Barret Zoph: A Dynamic Duo?

Another intriguing development is the possibility that Barret Zoph, a prominent AI researcher who also left OpenAI on the same day as Murati, may join forces with her in this new venture. Zoph is a well-respected figure in the AI research community, known for his contributions to neural architecture search and other cutting-edge AI methodologies. His involvement could add significant research heft to the start-up and help accelerate the development of proprietary models.

The combination of Murati’s product and leadership expertise with Zoph’s deep research capabilities could make this start-up a formidable player in the AI space. While Zoph has not yet commented on his involvement in the new venture, the prospect of their collaboration has generated excitement among industry observers.

Recruiting Talent from OpenAI: A Strategic Move

According to sources, Murati has been actively recruiting employees from OpenAI to join her new venture, further signaling her intent to build a team of top-tier AI talent. OpenAI has been a breeding ground for some of the brightest minds in the field, and attracting employees with experience working on large-scale AI models could give Murati’s start-up a significant advantage.

This talent acquisition strategy mirrors moves made by other AI start-ups founded by former OpenAI executives, such as Anthropic and Safe Superintelligence, which have similarly drawn on OpenAI’s talent pool to accelerate their growth. As competition in the AI industry heats up, having a strong team of experienced researchers and engineers will be crucial to success.

A Legacy of Innovation at OpenAI

Murati’s career trajectory at OpenAI is one of remarkable achievement. She joined the organization in June 2018, and her rise through the ranks culminated in her appointment as Chief Technology Officer in May 2022. During her tenure, Murati played a key role in some of OpenAI’s most significant projects, including the development of GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) models and DALL-E, the image generation tool that garnered widespread attention for its ability to create realistic images from text prompts.

Murati was also instrumental in OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft, which became the company’s largest financial backer, investing billions of dollars to support the development of advanced AI technologies. This collaboration led to the integration of OpenAI’s models into Microsoft products like Azure and Office, marking a major milestone in the commercialization of AI tools.

Her work at OpenAI established her as one of the leading figures in AI, and her frequent public appearances alongside OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made her a key spokesperson for the organization. When OpenAI launched its GPT-4o model, which introduced new capabilities such as realistic voice conversations, Murati led the presentation, underscoring her central role in the company’s product development efforts.

Navigating Governance Challenges

Murati’s departure from OpenAI coincided with significant governance changes at the organization. OpenAI has been transitioning away from its non-profit roots, with changes to its board structure aimed at facilitating its growth as a commercial entity. Murati briefly served as interim CEO of OpenAI in 2023 during a tumultuous period when Sam Altman was ousted by the non-profit board. Her leadership during that time earned her respect within the company, but she ultimately stepped down once Altman was reinstated.

In her resignation, Murati cited a desire for personal exploration and new challenges as the driving force behind her decision to leave OpenAI. This departure, however, appears to be more than just a personal journey. Her new AI start-up suggests that Murati is ready to leverage her extensive experience and knowledge to build something new and potentially transformative in the AI space.

The Growing Ecosystem of AI Start-ups

Murati’s new venture adds to a growing list of AI start-ups founded by former OpenAI executives. Companies like Anthropic, co-founded by ex-OpenAI VP of Research Dario Amodei, have attracted substantial investment and are seen as direct competitors to OpenAI. Safe Superintelligence, another start-up founded by former OpenAI executives, is also part of this burgeoning ecosystem of companies that are vying to develop the next generation of AI technologies.

The proliferation of these start-ups highlights the increasing competition in the AI industry, as well as the high stakes involved in developing proprietary models that can be scaled for commercial use. With Murati’s deep expertise and her potential collaboration with Barret Zoph, her new venture could quickly emerge as a key player in this competitive landscape.

Conclusion

Mira Murati’s decision to launch a new AI start-up marks the next chapter in her impressive career. With her reputation as one of the leading figures in AI, combined with her experience at OpenAI, Murati is well-positioned to build a company that can make significant contributions to the field. As she embarks on this new venture, the industry will be watching closely to see how her company develops and whether it can live up to the high expectations set by her previous achievements.

The potential involvement of Barret Zoph and the recruitment of top talent from OpenAI only add to the excitement surrounding this start-up. While the details of the company’s plans remain under wraps, there is little doubt that Murati’s new venture will be one to watch in the fast-evolving AI landscape.