Exodus of AI Talent: Meta, OpenAI, and the Rise of Mira Murati's New Venture

The AI landscape is witnessing a significant shift as top researchers and executives from Meta Platforms Inc. (META) and OpenAI are joining the ranks of Mira Murati's new AI venture, Thinking Machines Lab. Murati, the former CTO of OpenAI, launched her startup in late 2024, attracting a 30-person team with nearly two-thirds comprising former OpenAI employees. This exodus of talent has significant implications for the competitive landscape in the AI industry, particularly in the realm of multimodal systems and collaborative AI.

The Exodus of Talent

Mira Murati's new venture, Thinking Machines Lab, has assembled an impressive team, with prominent figures such as Barret Zoph (former VP of Research at OpenAI) serving as the new CTO and John Schulman (OpenAI co-founder) as the chief scientist. The team also includes Jonathan Lachman and Alexander Kirillov, both former OpenAI alums, as well as experts from Google, Meta, Mistral, and Character AI. This influx of talent from Meta and OpenAI highlights the allure of Murati's vision and the potential of her new venture.

The Competitive Landscape

The departure of top researchers from Meta and OpenAI to join Thinking Machines Lab represents a significant brain drain for these companies. This shift in the talent pool can impact the pace of innovation and the quality of research at these organizations. For instance, Barret Zoph's departure from OpenAI is a substantial loss for the company, given his role in developing AI systems like ChatGPT.

Thinking Machines Lab's focus on developing multimodal systems that work collaboratively with people sets it apart from other AI companies focused solely on autonomous systems. With a team comprising nearly two-thirds former OpenAI employees, Thinking Machines Lab has a strong foundation to challenge the established players. For example, John Schulman's involvement in the development of ChatGPT at OpenAI indicates the company's potential to make significant strides in multimodal AI.

Funding and Valuation

The departure of top researchers from Meta and OpenAI to join Thinking Machines Lab could also impact the company's ability to secure venture capital funding and achieve a high valuation. For example, Ilya Sutskever's AI startup, Safe Superintelligence, is currently raising over $1 billion, pushing its valuation past $30 billion. Similarly, Stanislas Polu secured $16 million for his AI startup, Dust, which focuses on customized AI solutions for businesses. If Thinking Machines Lab can attract a similar level of investment, it could become a formidable competitor in the AI landscape.

Conclusion

The exodus of talent from Meta and OpenAI to Mira Murati's new AI venture, Thinking Machines Lab, has significant implications for the competitive landscape in the AI industry. The brain drain, shift in talent pool, and the company's focus on human-centric design could all contribute to its success and impact the broader AI industry. As Thinking Machines Lab continues to grow and attract top talent, it will be interesting to see how it shapes the future of AI development and collaboration.