Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati Seeks Over $100M in Funding for New AI Startup

Mira Murati, former chief technology officer at OpenAI, is reportedly seeking over $100 million in funding for her new AI startup. Known for her work on ChatGPT and DALL-E, Murati's venture is expected to develop proprietary AI models. Sources suggest the company is in its early stages.

Murati's New AI Venture Could Raise Over $100M, with Former OpenAI Colleague Barret Zoph Possibly Joining

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Mira Murati, the former chief technology officer at OpenAI, is currently soliciting funding from venture capitalists for her new AI startup, per Reuters.

One of the sources who requested anonymity to discuss private matters stated that the new company's objective is to develop AI products based on proprietary models. Whether Murati will acquire the CEO position at the new venture is still being determined.

Murati declined to respond.

One of the sources cautioned that the figures still need to be finalized. Still, Murati's new venture, which is in the early phases, could raise over $100 million due to her reputation and the capital required to train proprietary models.

The sources also mentioned that Barret Zoph, a distinguished researcher who departed OpenAI on the same day as Murati in late September, may also participate in the new venture. Zoph did not respond to inquiries for comment.

According to a previous report by The Information, Murati has been recruiting OpenAI employees to join her new venture, and Zoph is planning a new startup.

Murati led transformative initiatives such as ChatGPT and DALL-E at OpenAI for over six years. She was critical to OpenAI's multibillion-dollar partnership with Microsoft, its most significant financial backer.

Murati's meteoric ascent at OpenAI has solidified her status as one of the most prominent executives in the emerging field of artificial intelligence.

Mira Murati, Former OpenAI CTO, Joins Growing List of Executives Launching New AI Startups After Departure

According to her LinkedIn profile, Murati was appointed Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI in May 2022, following her recruitment in June 2018. Before joining OpenAI, she was employed at Tesla and Leap Motion, an augmented reality startup.

She was the public face of the ChatGPT creator and frequently appeared alongside OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Murati conducted the presentation when OpenAI introduced its GPT-4o model in May, which can engage in realistic voice conversations.

The latest high-profile departure from the ChatGPT maker was her abrupt resignation in late September. The company endured significant governance structure changes, including removing the non-profit board's control. Murati briefly served as interim CEO last year when the non-profit board dismissed Altman and attributed her departure to a desire for personal exploration.

Murati has joined a burgeoning roster of former OpenAI executives establishing firms, including competitors like Safe Superintelligence and Anthropic.