After her unexpected departure from OpenAI last fall, Albanian-American Mira Murati has launched her own artificial intelligence company, Thinking Machines Lab.

According to foreign media reports, the company aims to make AI systems more understandable, customizable, and generally more capable.

Thinking Machines Lab has committed to a certain level of public transparency, pledging to regularly publish technical research.

In a press release, the company emphasized that it is focused on developing AI-powered tools that assist humans, rather than building fully autonomous systems.

“We are building a future where everyone has access to the knowledge and tools to make AI work for their unique needs and goals,” the statement reads.

Murati has already assembled a team of around 30 top AI researchers and engineers from major competitors, including OpenAI, Meta, and Mistral.

• Approximately two-thirds of the company consists of former OpenAI employees.
• Notably, Barret Zoph, a distinguished researcher who left OpenAI on the same day as Murati, will serve as Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
• John Schulman, co-founder of OpenAI, will be the Chief Scientist of the startup.

More former OpenAI employees are expected to join the company, as Thinking Machines Lab is in discussions with venture capital investors to secure funding.

Murati’s new venture marks the rise of a strong competitor in the AI space, challenging industry giants like OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic.