Mira Murati — The Visionary Behind Ethical AI and Thinking Machines Lab
Mira Murati has become one of the most searched names in the tech world, and for good reason. After a successful run as the CTO of OpenAI, where she led projects like ChatGPT and DALL·E, she shocked the industry by stepping away and launching her own startup — Thinking Machines Lab. Within just a few months of launch in 2025, her startup raised a record-setting $2 billion, drawing comparisons to the early days of OpenAI and Anthropic.\
Mira Murati is currently among the top trending names in the world of AI and has become a global role model for women in AI and technology. We should also work hard to earn recognition for our work—after all, it’s everyone’s dream these days to rank at the top of Google through their own efforts. So we should start working on it now.
But what makes Mira Murati’s journey so remarkable isn’t just the money. It’s the mission. In a time when tech leaders are chasing AI supremacy, Murati is pushing for human-aligned, transparent, and open AI systems. She turned down billion-dollar offers from tech giants like Meta — and so did her entire team. That alone has made the world stop and pay attention.
In this blog, we’ll take a deeper look at who Mira Murati is, why she’s trending globally, and how her work is shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
The Journey of Mira Murati — From Albania to OpenAI and Beyond
Mira Murati was born in Albania in 1988. At just 16, she moved to Canada to attend the United World College, later graduating in mechanical engineering from Dartmouth. Her early career involved stints at Goldman Sachs, Zodiac Aerospace, and then Tesla, where she worked on the Model X.
Her real rise to prominence began in 2018 when she joined OpenAI. Over the next few years, Murati led the development of major AI tools — including the now globally popular ChatGPT, DALL·E, and Codex. By 2022, she had risen to the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In 2023, she even served briefly as interim CEO, making her one of the few women at the top of the AI pyramid.
Despite her position, Murati became increasingly vocal about the need for AI systems that aligned with human values and ethical safeguards — not just technological dominance. This would become the driving force behind her next big move.
Thinking Machines Lab — Murati’s Bold New Chapter
In early 2025, Mira Murati founded Thinking Machines Lab, a public-benefit AI startup focused on building multimodal, human-aligned AI. What made headlines wasn’t just the idea but the incredible backing she received: $2 billion in seed funding, with investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Nvidia, AMD, Cisco, and even the Albanian government.
The company is developing next-generation AI that:
- Understands and processes multiple forms of input (text, image, voice)
- Prioritizes ethical and explainable AI
- Offers high levels of user control and transparency
- Adopts an open-science model to avoid centralized power
Why Mira Murati Rejected Meta’s Billion-Dollar Offer
One of the biggest turning points came when Meta (Facebook) reportedly offered her and her team billion-dollar compensation packages to switch sides. Shockingly, not one person from her team accepted. Here’s why that matters:
- Murati’s team believes in building responsible AI, not just profitable AI.
- They trust her leadership and vision more than Big Tech incentives.
- The refusal sends a strong message about ethics and independence in the AI arms race.
Key Milestones in Mira Murati’s Career
Here’s a quick breakdown of Murati’s career journey and accomplishments:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Graduated from Dartmouth with a BEng |
| 2013–2016 | Worked at Tesla on Model X |
| 2016–2018 | VP of Product at Leap Motion |
| 2018 | Joined OpenAI as VP of Applied AI |
| 2022 | Became CTO of OpenAI |
| 2023 | Appointed Interim CEO of OpenAI |
| 2025 | Founded Thinking Machines Lab |
Thinking Machines Lab vs Other AI Labs
| Feature | Thinking Machines Lab | OpenAI | Meta AI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Vision | Ethical, human-aligned AI | General-purpose AGI | AI for Meta product ecosystem |
| Investment Model | Public-benefit, open science | For-profit capped entity | Corporate-owned |
| Founding Year | 2025 | 2015 | 2013 |
| Initial Seed Funding | $2 Billion | $1 Billion+ | Internal R&D |
Why Mira Murati Matters Right Now
Here’s why Mira Murati is one of the most influential voices in tech today:
- She led the team that built ChatGPT.
- She’s fighting for open, transparent AI.
- Raised the largest seed funding round in AI history.
- Rejected unethical tech deals, putting values over money.
- Became a role model for women in AI and tech globally.
FAQs About Mira Murati
Q1: What is Mira Murati famous for?
She’s known for leading the development of ChatGPT and for founding Thinking Machines Lab — a startup focused on ethical AI.
Q2: Why did she leave OpenAI?
She left to pursue a mission-driven approach to AI, one that emphasizes transparency, openness, and human alignment.
Q3: What is Thinking Machines Lab?
It’s an AI startup focused on creating ethical, multimodal AI systems. It has already raised $2B in funding.
Q4: Did she really reject Meta’s billion-dollar offer?
Yes. Reports confirm she and her team declined massive offers from Meta to maintain their independence and mission focus.
Final Thoughts
Mira Murati isn’t just building the next big AI company — she’s reshaping how we think about technology, leadership, and responsibility. In an industry where speed and profits often outweigh ethics, her stance is refreshing and powerful. As Thinking Machines Lab begins rolling out its first products, all eyes will remain on Murati — the engineer-turned-visionary who might just redefine what it means to build AI for humanity.
If you’re watching the future of AI unfold, keep your eyes on Mira Murati. The world certainly is. Visit for More techdevers or subscribe Tech Devers
