OpenAI cofounder John Schulman has joined former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati’s stealth startup, just five months after leaving Anthropic. The startup, yet to be officially named, has been making headlines for recruiting top talent from OpenAI, Character AI, and Google DeepMind. Schulman left OpenAI in August 2024 to focus on AI alignment research and briefly joined Anthropic before moving to Murati’s venture. Murati herself left OpenAI in September 2024 and has since been raising substantial funding, reportedly over $100 million, to build an innovative AI enterprise. With Schulman on board, the startup is expected to push boundaries in artificial intelligence research and development.
1. Background and Working Model of Murati’s AI Startup
Mira Murati, former CTO of OpenAI, stepped down in September 2024 with the goal of building her own AI company. Since then, her stealth startup has attracted top AI talent and major investor interest. Murati’s startup is expected to follow a SaaS model, offering AI-powered enterprise solutions and licensing AI models for commercial use. With a strong focus on AI alignment and compliance, the company is led by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati and cofounder John Schulman, both known for advancing AI research. Key hires include Jonathan Lachman, ex-OpenAI Head of Special Projects, and Christian Gibson from OpenAI’s Supercomputing Team. In October 2024, Murati sought over $100 million in funding, backed by top VC firms and angel investors, signaling ambitious growth plans. While product details remain undisclosed, speculation points to advanced AI models and ethical AI research.
2. John Schulman’s Career Transition
John Schulman co-founded OpenAI and played a key role in AI alignment and reinforcement learning. In August 2024, he announced his departure from OpenAI, stating his desire to focus on hands-on technical work in AI alignment research. He briefly joined Anthropic, an AI safety-focused company, but left after five months. His decision to join Murati’s startup signals a new direction in AI development, likely emphasizing safety, transparency, and innovation.
3. Impact on the AI Industry
Mira Murati and John Schulman’s AI startup is set to challenge OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepMind, and Character AI. With expertise in AI alignment and ethics, they aim to lead responsible AI development. Their aggressive hiring spree could shift industry talent dynamics, drawing top researchers and engineers to their venture.
4. Future Prospects and Industry Trends
Murati and Schulman’s startup aims to rival OpenAI, leveraging top talent and funding to build advanced AI technologies. Their products will likely focus on ethical AI for businesses while prioritizing safety and regulatory compliance. Meanwhile, the AI industry sees rising VC investment, stricter regulations, and a stronger push for transparency and fairness.
5. Learnings for Startups and Entrepreneurs
- Talent Acquisition is Key: Recruiting top AI researchers is a crucial strategy for success.
- Funding Matters: Securing capital early on ensures rapid growth and innovation.
- Focus on AI Safety: Ethical AI practices will become a defining factor in the industry.
- Competitive Differentiation: Startups must carve out a unique niche to compete with tech giants.
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