Mira Murati, the former Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI, has launched a new artificial intelligence startup, Thinking Machines Lab.

The company, unveiled on Tuesday, comprises a team of approximately 30 leading researchers and engineers from major AI competitors, including OpenAI, Meta, and Mistral.

Thinking Machines Lab aims to build AI systems that encode human values and broaden the scope of AI applications beyond those of its competitors, the company stated in a blog post.

The startup’s approach emphasizes a collaborative design process between research and product teams, setting it apart from other AI ventures.

Murati, a long-time executive at OpenAI, has demonstrated her ability to attract top talent from her former employer. About two-thirds of the new company’s workforce consists of former OpenAI employees. Among them is Barret Zoph, a prominent researcher who departed OpenAI on the same day as Murati in late September. Zoph will serve as Thinking Machines Lab’s Chief Technology Officer.

Another key figure at the startup is OpenAI co-founder John Schulman, who will take on the role of Chief Scientist. Schulman left OpenAI for rival AI firm Anthropic in August, citing his desire to focus on AI alignment, a critical area in AI development that ensures models adhere to human values and safety measures.

More former OpenAI employees are expected to join Thinking Machines Lab, sources told Reuters, though they requested anonymity to discuss private matters. Additionally, the company is reportedly in talks to raise venture capital funding, according to previous Reuters reports.

Murati joins a growing list of former OpenAI executives who have established AI startups. Other notable ventures include Anthropic and Safe Superintelligence, both of which have attracted former OpenAI researchers and secured significant investments.

Thinking Machines Lab highlighted its commitment to advancing AI alignment research, pledging to share code, datasets, and model specifications. “While current systems excel at programming and mathematics, we’re building AI that can adapt to the full spectrum of human expertise and enable a broader range of applications,” the company stated.

Murati, who joined OpenAI in June 2018, played a pivotal role in the development of ChatGPT and often served as the firm’s public face alongside CEO Sam Altman.

Her sudden departure was part of a wave of high-profile exits following governance changes at OpenAI. Before her tenure at OpenAI, Murati worked at augmented reality startup Leap Motion and Tesla.