Ex-OpenAI CTO’s Startup Raises $2 Billion for Multimodal AI

Thinking Machines Lab, the artificial intelligence startup founded by Mira Murati, former Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI, has secured a staggering $2 billion in seed funding. The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), with participation from prominent investors including NVIDIA, AMD, Accel, ServiceNow, Cisco, and Jane Street. This funding values the company at $12 billion, marking one of the largest early-stage investments in the AI sector.

A Vision for Human-Collaborative AI

Established in February 2025 and headquartered in San Francisco, Thinking Machines Lab is structured as a public benefit company. Its mission is to develop multimodal AI systems that interact with humans naturally across scenarios like conversation, vision, and collaboration. Murati emphasized the company’s goal to create "general intelligence that collaborates with humans," making AI more understandable, customizable, and applicable across diverse fields.

The startup plans to release its first product in the coming months, which will include open-source components to support academic research and developer customization. This approach aligns with Murati’s commitment to transparency and collaboration in AI development.

All-Star Team and Ethical Focus

The company boasts a team of top-tier talent from leading tech firms like OpenAI, Meta, and Mistral. Notably, it includes John Schulman, co-founder of OpenAI. Murati highlighted that Thinking Machines Lab will advance AI alignment research by sharing code and datasets, fostering the development of transparent AI systems aligned with human values.

Key Points:

• $2 billion seed funding led by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z).
• Company valued at $12 billion, among the largest early-stage AI investments.
• Focus on multimodal AI for natural human interaction.
• First product launch expected soon, featuring open-source components.
• Team includes ex-OpenAI and Meta talent, emphasizing ethical AI development.