In a significant move within the global artificial intelligence (AI) sector, Mira Murati, former Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI, has launched a new venture—Thinking Machines Lab and secured an impressive $2 billion in seed funding. The early-stage round values the company at $10 billion, making it one of the largest seed fundraises in tech history.
The stealth-mode company, which quietly surfaced this week, aims to challenge conventional approaches to foundational AI models. Early reports suggest that Thinking Machines Lab is focused on building more generalized AI systems capable of reasoning, memory integration, and real-time learning—advancing beyond traditional task-specific models.
Vision for Next-Generation AI
Though details about the company’s full roadmap remain limited, Thinking Machines is reportedly working on systems that replicate human-like cognition. These systems are expected to operate across multiple tasks with minimal fine-tuning, an area seen as critical for future AI progress.
Industry observers believe this direction signals a shift toward Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) capabilities that are not just reactive but also adaptive and self-evolving.
Murati, who helped steer OpenAI’s product development—including contributions to GPT-4 and DALL·E—has long advocated for building AI with a strong ethical foundation. With Thinking Machines Lab, she appears to be extending that vision, prioritizing safe and scalable AI aligned with human values.
Backed by Top-Tier Investors
The venture is reportedly backed by leading venture capital firms, including those with past investments in OpenAI, Anthropic, and other cutting-edge AI labs. The massive seed round has drawn global attention not only because of its size but also due to Murati’s high-profile reputation** in the AI research community.
The funding signals continued investor confidence in long-term, transformative AI projects, even in an increasingly competitive startup landscape.
A Rising Wave of AI Investment
The launch comes at a time when the AI space is witnessing a surge in investment activity. Several startups are emerging with ambitious goals to either complement or compete with models like GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini. From open-source alternatives to proprietary innovations, the market is increasingly betting on the next breakthrough in AI architecture.
Thinking Machines is seen as part of this new wave. While it has yet to reveal a commercial product, industry sources suggest it could focus on building AI systems with planning capabilities, long-term memory, and context-aware responses—moving a step closer to more general-purpose applications.
Looking Ahead
Murati’s decision to start her own lab reflects a broader trend of AI leaders branching out to develop new frameworks that prioritize transparency, explainability, and multi-modal intelligence. Her approach is expected to blend deep research with interdisciplinary collaboration, aligning closely with global concerns around AI ethics and safety.
As the field moves beyond hype toward practical deployment, Thinking Machines Lab could emerge as a key player in shaping the next frontier of AI innovation. With $2 billion in backing and a clear focus on next-gen architecture, the company is already positioned as one of the most anticipated ventures in the space.
Though still operating in stealth, the scale of its funding, coupled with Murati’s leadership, makes Thinking Machines a startup to watch as the global AI race intensifies.