Mira Murati

Ermira "Mira" Murati played a central role in steering artificial intelligence from laboratory breakthrough to everyday phenomenon, serving as Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI and later launching her own startup, Thinking Machines Lab, with $2 billion in initial funding.[1] Her technical leadership shaped landmark AI systems such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, and GPT-4, placing her at the center of the largest shift in digital technology in the early 2020s.[2] Her contributions reached beyond building smarter machines—she helped define global conversations on AI ethics, societal impacts, and the responsibilities of tech leadership.[3]

Born in 1988 in Vlorë, Albania, Murati's fascination with science and technology emerged early[3]—she moved to Canada at age 16 to attend Pearson College UWC, graduating from the elite International Baccalaureate program in 2005.[2] Her academic journey continued at Colby College for a BA, then Dartmouth College for a Bachelor of Engineering, completed in 2012. This rigorous, interdisciplinary training would later enable her to guide teams through complex, ethically fraught technological frontiers.[4] Reflecting on her education, Murati once said, “In a field increasingly shaped by questions of ethics, responsibility, and human impact, that blend of skills proved invaluable.”[verified quote]

Before entering AI, Murati gained hands-on engineering and product experience as an intern with Zodiac Aerospace and Goldman Sachs, and then as Advanced Concepts Engineer at Zodiac Aerospace.[4] In 2013, she joined Tesla as Senior Product Manager for the Model X, contributing to the launch of a vehicle that pushed the boundaries of automotive technology.[5] She later worked at Leap Motion (now Ultraleap), developing augmented reality interfaces before transitioning to AI fulltime.[2]

Murati joined OpenAI in 2018, advancing rapidly from Vice President of Applied AI and Partnerships to Senior Vice President of Research, Product, and Partnerships, and, by May 2022, to Chief Technology Officer.[1] Her tenure included oversight of teams behind foundational AI technologies—ChatGPT's public launch under her technical leadership in 2022 set the global agenda for conversational AI.[2] Murati's approach emphasized public engagement: “You could make technological progress in a vacuum without real-world contacts. But then the question is, Are you actually moving in the right direction?”[verified quote] She also managed OpenAI's $13 billion partnership with Microsoft, negotiated during her rise through executive ranks.[1]

Her leadership during OpenAI's leadership crisis in late 2023 was particularly significant: after CEO Sam Altman's abrupt departure, Murati was appointed interim CEO, stabilizing the organization during intense scrutiny.[2] Though her interim tenure was brief, her crisis management and deep institutional knowledge were widely cited as vital.[1] In September 2024, Murati stepped down as CTO, opting to explore new ventures at a pivotal moment for OpenAI, as several key executives also transitioned out.[2]

In 2025, Murati founded Thinking Machines Lab, an AI startup backed by two billion dollars in investment. The launch marked her return to hands-on innovation and reflected her commitment to advancing AI in new directions.[1] Her résumé also includes an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Dartmouth College awarded in 2024 for “democratizing technology and advancing a better, safer world.”[2]

Murati's work influenced not only the technical landscape—in enabling chats and art generation through AI—but also public policy and social perceptions of AI safety. She advocated for interdisciplinary approaches and the integration of ethical values in technology, shaping conversations about who benefits from powerful new tools.[3] Her rise as an Albanian-American woman in top engineering and business leadership roles inspired many, with notable recognition including a spot on Fortune's "100 Most Powerful Women in Business" in 2023.[2]

Through her engineering expertise, business acumen, and steadfast dedication to responsible AI, Mira Murati has left a measurable mark on artificial intelligence, digital ethics, and a generation of technology leaders. Her ongoing work continues to push the boundary of what's possible—and what ought to be possible—in the relationship between humans and intelligent machines.[5]

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