Mira Murati, the former Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI, has officially launched her new AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab, after departing from OpenAI last fall. The startup aims to make AI systems more widely understood, customizable, and capable, with a focus on products that help humans work with AI rather than fully autonomous systems.

Thinking Machines Lab has already assembled a dream team of AI experts, including OpenAI co-founder John Schulman as head of research, Barrett Zoph as CTO, and Jonathan Lachman, who led OpenAI's special projects division. According to sources, Schulman has been actively building the team by taking meetings with researchers near OpenAI's headquarters. In total, about 10 top researchers and engineers have been poached from tech's AI elite labs, including OpenAI, Character.AI, and Google DeepMind.

Murati's new venture promises to prioritize public transparency, pledging to regularly publish technical research and code. This move is seen as a departure from the more secretive approach often adopted by AI startups. The company's goal is to "make AI work for everyone's unique needs and goals," as stated in a press release shared with The Verge.

The launch of Thinking Machines Lab marks a significant development in the AI landscape, as it poses a direct challenge to OpenAI's dominance. Murati's reputation as a leading AI expert, combined with the talent she has assembled, makes Thinking Machines Lab a serious contender in the field. The startup's focus on human-AI collaboration and transparency could also help to address concerns around AI safety and accountability.

The AI industry has been abuzz with news of Murati's departure from OpenAI, and the speculation surrounding her next move. With the launch of Thinking Machines Lab, Murati is poised to make a significant impact on the AI landscape, and her startup is likely to be closely watched by industry observers and investors alike.

As the AI landscape continues to evolve, the emergence of Thinking Machines Lab highlights the growing trend towards more collaborative and transparent approaches to AI development. With Murati at the helm, the startup is well-positioned to drive innovation and progress in the field, and its focus on human-AI collaboration could have far-reaching implications for industries beyond tech.

While details of Thinking Machines Lab's products and services remain under wraps, the startup's commitment to transparency and collaboration suggests that it may be willing to take a more open and inclusive approach to AI development. As the startup continues to grow and evolve, it will be interesting to see how it shapes the AI landscape and addresses the complex challenges surrounding AI safety and accountability.