Mira Murati Leaves As OpenAI CTO

Mira Murati, the Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI, has announced her departure from the organisation after six and a half years of service. In a heartfelt message, Murati expressed her gratitude to OpenAI co-founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman for their trust and support throughout her tenure. Reflecting on her time with the company, she highlighted the significant advancements made in artificial intelligence (AI) and emphasised the teamwork that led to breakthroughs in areas like speech-to-speech and the OpenAI o1 release.

Murati remarked that her decision to leave was not easy but felt the timing was right, given the recent achievements. “We didn’t merely build smarter models, we fundamentally changed how AI systems learn and reason through complex problems,” she stated, adding that her departure would allow her time for personal exploration while ensuring a smooth transition for the team.

Throughout her leadership, Murati played a pivotal role in bringing AI safety research from theory to practical application, contributing to the development of more robust and aligned models. Her efforts, she noted, helped make cutting-edge AI research more intuitive and accessible, setting OpenAI as a leader in innovation. Despite stepping away, she reassured her team of her continued support and appreciation for their shared accomplishments.

Murati’s exit follows her appointment as interim CEO of OpenAI in late 2023, succeeding Sam Altman after his departure due to disagreements with the board. During her time at OpenAI, she oversaw critical projects, including the development of ChatGPT, and strengthened partnerships with major players like Microsoft. Born in Albania and raised in Canada, Murati previously worked at Tesla and Leap Motion before joining OpenAI in 2018.

Here’s what Mira Murati wrote:

“Hi all,

I have something to share with you. After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to leave OpenAl.

My six-and-a-half years with the OpenAl team have been an extraordinary privilege. While I’ll express my gratitude to many individuals in the coming days, I want to start by thanking Sam and Greg for their trust in me to lead the technical organization and for their support throughout the years.

There’s never an ideal time to step away from a place one cherishes, yet this moment feels right. Our recent releases of speech-to-speech and OpenAl o1 mark the beginning of a new era in interaction and intelligence – achievements made possible by your ingenuity and craftsmanship. We didn’t merely build smarter models, we fundamentally changed how Al systems learn and reason through complex problems.

We brought safety research from the theoretical realm into practical applications, creating models that are more robust, aligned, and steerable than ever before. Our work has made cutting-edge Al research intuitive and accessible, developing technology that adapts and evolves based on everyone’s input. This success is a testament to our outstanding teamwork, and it is because of your brilliance, your dedication, and your commitment that OpenAl stands at the pinnacle of Al innovation.

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.

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.

Mira”