OpenAI’s CTO Mira Murati steps down for personal exploration
CTO Mira Murati leaves OpenAI to explore personal interests
Mira Murati, OpenAI’s chief technology officer, has announced her departure from the company via a post on the social platform X. She stated her decision was motivated by a desire “to create time and space” for personal exploration. CEO Sam Altman also revealed that chief research officer Bob McGrew and research leader Barret Zoph will be leaving as well.
Murati explained her choice to leave the ChatGPT developer after considerable reflection. “I’m stepping away because I want to create the time and space to do my own exploration. For now, my primary focus is doing everything in my power to ensure a smooth transition, maintaining the momentum we’ve built,” she shared in her statement.
In her message, Murati praised OpenAI as a leader in AI innovation and expressed her difficulty in leaving a company she holds in high regard. She reflected on her six-and-a-half-year tenure as an “extraordinary privilege,” extending thanks to CEO Sam Altman and president Greg Brockman for their support.
I shared the following note with the OpenAI team today. pic.twitter.com/nsZ4khI06P
— Mira Murati (@miramurati) September 25, 2024
“I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to build and work alongside this remarkable team. Together, we’ve pushed the boundaries of scientific understanding in our quest to improve human well-being. While I may no longer be in the trenches with you, I will still be rooting for you all. With deep gratitude for the friendships forged, the triumphs achieved, and most importantly, the challenges overcome together,” her statement read.
Altman acknowledged her contributions and expressed gratitude for her service. He noted that leadership changes are a natural part of a rapidly growing organisation and assured that transition plans would be announced soon.
“I feel tremendous gratitude towards her for what she has helped us build and accomplish, but I most of all feel personal gratitude towards her for the support and love during all the hard times. I am excited for what she’ll do next. We’ll say more about the transition plans soon, but for now, I want to take a moment to just feel thanks,” Altman wrote on X.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Guardian reports Mira Murati’s departure from OpenAI, highlighting her six-and-a-half years of service and her pivotal role in ChatGPT and Dall-E advancements, amidst leadership shakeups and company restructuring.(read more)
- The New York Times reports on Mira Murati’s resignation from OpenAI, highlighting her significant contributions and the ongoing leadership turmoil within the company amidst its transformation and potential new investment round.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why is Mira Murati leaving OpenAI?
Mira Murati is leaving OpenAI to create time and space for her own exploration.
Who else is leaving OpenAI along with Mira Murati?
Chief Research Officer Bob McGrew and research leader Barret Zoph are also leaving OpenAI.
What did Mira Murati say about her time at OpenAI?
Mira Murati described her six-and-a-half years at OpenAI as an ‘extraordinary privilege’ and thanked her colleagues.
How did Sam Altman respond to Murati’s departure?
Sam Altman expressed gratitude for Murati’s contributions and promised to announce transition plans soon.
What is OpenAI’s new model mentioned in the article?
OpenAI is close to releasing a model called ‘Strawberry’ with reasoning capabilities.
