Mira Murati’s AI Startup Hires Former OpenAI Executive in First Recruitment Round
Jonathan Lachman, the former head of special projects at OpenAI, has joined an emerging artificial intelligence research lab founded by ex-OpenAI executive Mira Murati, according to sources familiar with the matter. This marks the most significant hire for Murati’s new AI venture since her departure from OpenAI in September 2024. The startup is focused on advancing Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
Murati’s Startup Attracts Top AI Talent
Murati has successfully recruited around 10 AI researchers and engineers from leading AI companies, including OpenAI, Character AI, and Google DeepMind. Despite these early hires, her startup remains in the early development phase, currently lacking an official name or a concrete product direction, according to industry insiders.
Neither Murati nor Lachman have publicly commented on the recent hiring moves. Meanwhile, an OpenAI spokesperson has confirmed Lachman’s departure from the company.
The OpenAI Leadership Shakeup
Murati left OpenAI less than a year after a turbulent leadership crisis at the company. In late 2023, OpenAI’s board unexpectedly fired CEO Sam Altman, leading to a brief period where Murati, then the company’s Chief Technology Officer, was appointed interim CEO.
Altman later described Murati’s short-lived promotion as “the low point” of the internal power struggle. However, within a week, OpenAI employees overwhelmingly supported Altman’s reinstatement, leading to his return as CEO.
Despite the upheaval, Murati and Altman continued working closely together after his return. Altman later praised Murati for handling the leadership crisis well, stating that she played a crucial role in stabilizing the company during that chaotic period.
Murati’s Vision for the Future
When Murati resigned from OpenAI in 2024, she expressed a desire to explore new opportunities in AI. In her farewell letter to OpenAI employees, which she later posted on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote:
“There’s never an ideal time to step away from a place one cherishes. I’m stepping away because I want to create the time and space to do my own exploration.”
A month later, reports emerged that Murati was in the process of raising over $100 million in funding for her new AI company, though final investment figures remain undisclosed.
Growing Competition in AI Research
Murati’s startup enters an increasingly competitive AI landscape, where former OpenAI executives have founded several ambitious ventures:
- Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s former Chief Scientist, launched Safe Superintelligence, raising $1 billion within just three months.
- Anthropic, another AI powerhouse founded by ex-OpenAI researchers, secured $8 billion in funding from Amazon.
With top AI talent shifting to new ventures, the competition for AGI breakthroughs continues to intensify. Murati’s startup is poised to be a major player in this evolving AI ecosystem.
Stay tuned for updates as Mira Murati’s AI startup takes shape and reveals its vision for the future of artificial intelligence.