Mira Murati, former CTO of OpenAI and current CEO of Thinking Machines Lab, has been making waves in the tech industry with her latest endeavors. After a stint as interim CEO at OpenAI during a tumultuous period in 2023, Murati has returned to the spotlight with her own company, Thinking Machines Lab, which raised a record-breaking $2 billion seed round in July 2025.
Thinking Machines Lab's mission is to redefine the future of artificial intelligence (AI) through open collaboration and transparency. The company's first product, Tinker, is an API for fine-tuning open-source AI models, and its second product, which has not been publicly disclosed, is expected to launch soon.
What Happened
Murati's journey with Thinking Machines Lab began in 2024, when she founded the company. The venture quickly gained attention from top investors, including a16z, NVIDIA, and AMD, who backed it with $2 billion at a $12 billion post-money valuation. However, just four months later, Bloomberg reported that Thinking Machines was seeking an additional $50 billion from new investors.
Despite the high valuation, talks with prospective backers eventually collapsed without a deal in January 2026. The company's original valuation of $12 billion has remained intact, and it now boasts two live products, infrastructure commitments from NVIDIA and Google, and a team of around 140 to 169 employees.
Background and Context
Murati's background in AI is well-documented. She joined OpenAI in 2018 as CTO and played a crucial role in the development of GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, as well as the release of ChatGPT in November 2022. When Sam Altman was briefly ousted from his position as CEO in November 2023, Murati stepped in as interim CEO, demonstrating her technical expertise and leadership skills.
Thinking Machines Lab's focus on open collaboration and transparency is a departure from the closed ecosystems that dominate the AI industry today. By making its products and research openly available, Thinking Machines aims to empower humanity through advancing collaborative general intelligence.
Why It Matters to the Industry
The success of Thinking Machines Lab has significant implications for the adult-industry trade. The company's commitment to open collaboration and transparency could set a new standard for responsible AI innovation. By making its products and research openly available, Thinking Machines is creating opportunities for startups and researchers to build upon its work.
This shift towards open science and shared knowledge could also lead to more efficient development of AI technologies, which are critical components in the adult industry's streaming and webcam infrastructure. As the demand for high-quality content continues to grow, companies like Thinking Machines Lab will play a crucial role in providing the necessary tools and technologies.
What Comes Next
Murati has been vocal about her concerns regarding the concentration of consequential decisions in too few hands within the AI industry. She advocates for structural checks and more transparency in decision-making processes, which could have far-reaching implications for companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.
The future of Thinking Machines Lab remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: Murati's vision for open collaboration and transparency has captured the attention of investors and industry leaders alike. As the company continues to develop its products and research, it will be interesting to see how it addresses the challenges facing the AI industry today.
Key Facts
- Mira Murati founded Thinking Machines Lab in 2024 with a $2 billion seed round at a $12 billion post-money valuation.
- The company's first product, Tinker, is an API for fine-tuning open-source AI models.
- Thinking Machines Lab has two live products and infrastructure commitments from NVIDIA and Google.
- Murati was interim CEO of OpenAI in November 2023 after Sam Altman's brief ousting.
- The company is focused on open collaboration and transparency, aiming to empower humanity through advancing collaborative general intelligence.
