Mira Murati, Chief Technology Officer at Microsoft-backed OpenAI, has announced her departure from the artificial intelligence startup, adding to a series of executive exits this year.
Murati, who played a key role in OpenAI’s advancements, shared the news via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating her desire to “create the time and space to do [her] own exploration.”
“There’s never an ideal time to walk away from a place one cherishes, but the moment feels right,” Murati said in the post.
“I want to create the time and space to do my own exploration.”
I shared the following note with the OpenAI team today. pic.twitter.com/nsZ4khI06P
— Mira Murati (@miramurati) September 25, 2024
OpenAI chief Sam Altman replied to Murati’s post with his thanks for what Murati has helped the company build, and promised details on a transition plan soon.
Just hours after Murati’s announcement, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed that two additional senior technical leaders, Barret Zoph, VP of Research, and Bob McGrew, Chief Research Officer, also resigned. Their exits are the latest in a series of leadership changes at the company.
The San Francisco-based artificial intelligence startup is negotiating a new $6.5 billion financing round valuing the company at $150 billion, contingent on the company upending its corporate structure.
The company plans to restructure to a for-profit benefit corporation and will give CEO Sam Altman an equity stake, according to a report in Reuters. Currently, a non-profit board controls the for-profit entity, an unusual structure which led to members of the non-profit board ousting Altman in November 2023 over a breakdown in communication and loss of trust. He was reinstated after five days.
