Mira Murati’s AI venture recruits ex-OpenAI leader among first hires

Former OpenAI Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati has begun staffing her new artificial intelligence startup, making several key hires including OpenAI’s former head of special projects Jonathan Lachman.

Key developments: Murati’s unnamed startup, focused on artificial general intelligence (AGI) – AI systems capable of performing any intellectual task that humans can do – has recruited approximately 10 researchers and engineers from major AI companies.

• The startup has attracted talent from OpenAI, Character AI, and Google DeepMind
• While actively hiring, the company remains in early stages without a name or defined product direction
• Murati is reportedly seeking over $100 million in funding for the venture

Leadership background: Murati’s departure from OpenAI followed a complex series of events involving the company’s leadership crisis in late 2023.

• She briefly served as interim CEO during Sam Altman‘s temporary removal from OpenAI
• Despite initial tensions, Murati and Altman maintained a positive working relationship after his reinstatement
• Her September 2024 departure was amicable, with Murati expressing a desire to pursue independent exploration

Industry context: The launch of Murati’s startup continues a pattern of high-profile departures from OpenAI leading to new ventures.

• OpenAI has experienced several senior executive departures, including VP of Research Barret Zoph and Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew
• Co-founder Ilya Sutskever left to establish Safe Superintelligence, securing $1 billion in funding within three months
• Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI executives, has raised significant capital including $8 billion from Amazon

Competitive landscape: The emergence of well-funded AI startups led by former OpenAI executives suggests increasing competition and diversification in advanced AI research.

• These new ventures are attracting substantial investment despite early-stage status
• The focus on AGI research indicates continued interest in pushing the boundaries of AI capabilities
• The talent migration between major AI companies highlights the dynamic nature of the industry

Future implications: While Murati’s startup is still taking shape, her track record and ability to attract top talent suggest it could become a significant player in the AGI research space, potentially introducing new approaches to artificial intelligence development that differ from established companies.