Implicator
Business Insider reports Mira Murati wants $2 billion for her new AI venture. Silicon Valley can't write checks fast enough.
The former OpenAI CTO has doubled her fundraising target for Thinking Machines Lab. Sources tell Business Insider she's now seeking more than $2 billion at a $10 billion-plus valuation, up from $1 billion just two months ago.
Money helps, but talent wins. Murati has assembled an all-star team of AI researchers who helped build ChatGPT. They include Bob McGrew, OpenAI's former research chief, and John Schulman, who co-led ChatGPT's development.
The company plans to make AI more accessible and customizable. Bold claims from a startup with no product. But Murati's track record at OpenAI, where she spent 6½ years as CTO, gives investors confidence.
The timing works in her favor. AI funding is booming, and companies with real technical expertise are scarce. Murati brings both.
Why this matters:
- If successful, this would be the largest seed round ever - proving top AI talent can command unprecedented funding
- The original ChatGPT builders now compete against their creation, setting up an intriguing technical rivalry
Marcus Schuler
Tech translator with German roots who fled to Silicon Valley chaos. Decodes startup noise from San Francisco. Launched implicator.ai to slice through AI's daily madness—crisp, clear, with Teutonic precision and sarcasm. E-Mail: [email protected]
