Jonathan Lachman, the former head of special projects at OpenAI, has recently joined a new AI research lab founded by Mira Murati, a former executive at OpenAI. This marks Murati’s first significant hire since she launched her highly anticipated startup focused on exploring artificial general intelligence (AGI) after leaving OpenAI in September 2024.
In addition to Lachman, Murati has recruited around 10 engineers and researchers from various AI companies, including OpenAI, Character AI, and Google DeepMind. Although the startup is still in its nascent stages and has yet to reveal its official name or product direction, the move signifies a strong start in attracting talent from established AI firms.
Murati’s departure from OpenAI came less than a year after CEO Sam Altman was dismissed by the company’s board in late 2023, an event that led to a temporary leadership shakeup. Following a tumultuous period that included significant staff pushback, Altman was reinstated as CEO. Murati, who had briefly stepped in as interim CEO, received praise from Altman for her performance during the crisis.
In her goodbye to OpenAI, Murati expressed her desire for personal exploration as her reason for departing. Following her exit, it was reported that she aimed to raise over $100 million for her startup. Other high-profile exits from OpenAI around the same time included Barret Zoph and Bob McGrew, with co-founder Ilya Sutskever also leaving later to start a new company focused on AI safety.
These developments highlight the growing trend of talent migration within the AI sector, spurred by the increasing interest and competition in the field. The emergence of startups like Murati’s could reshape the landscape of artificial intelligence in the years to come.
For more on the dynamics at OpenAI, see this report on the controversial firing of Sam Altman.
