Mira Murati, the former Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of OpenAI, is making significant strides with her latest venture, Thinking Machines Lab. The AI startup has just enlisted two notable advisers: Bob McGrew and Alec Radford, both previously associated with OpenAI's high-stakes projects.

Bob McGrew, a former chief research officer at OpenAI, had a distinguished career at the company since joining in 2017. He swiftly rose through the ranks to lead research initiatives before departing in September 2024 for a much-needed hiatus. Meanwhile, Alec Radford, who left OpenAI after nearly ten years, contributed to groundbreaking innovations including the landmark research on Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPTs), which form the backbone of OpenAI's flagship products like ChatGPT and the image generator DALL-E. Notably, Radford was instrumental in projects that reshaped the AI landscape, providing his expertise to various models and technologies that influence today's AI applications.

In March, Thinking Machines Lab's website was updated to reflect the addition of McGrew and Radford, adding to the intrigue surrounding the firm's vision, although details about their research agenda remain somewhat ambiguous. However, a February announcement outlined their commitment to developing tools that cater to individual needs, emphasizing a goal of creating AI systems that are more user-friendly, customizable, and capable than existing options.

Mira Murati, who took on the role of CEO at Thinking Machines Lab after her departure from OpenAI last October, has already established a strong foundational team. John Schulman, a co-founder of OpenAI, serves as the chief scientist, while Barret Zoph, who excelled in model post-training at OpenAI, is the new CTO.

The startup is rumored to be in talks to secure over $100 million in funding from venture capital firms, aiming to revolutionize the AI sector. Having attracted a team comprising talented individuals from leading AI laboratories—including OpenAI and Google DeepMind—Thinking Machines Lab is poised to make a significant impact in the technology landscape.

As the AI arms race continues, Murati's venture is undoubtedly one to watch. With an exceptional team and a visionary mission, Thinking Machines Lab aims to leverage innovative AI to solve real-world problems, keeping users' unique needs at the forefront. The question remains—what groundbreaking developments will emerge from this powerhouse team? Stay tuned for more updates as the story unfolds!