OpenAI’s chief technology officer, Mira Murati, has announced her resignation, stating she seeks “the time and space to do my own exploration.” Murati, a key figure behind ChatGPT’s rise, made the announcement via a message to the OpenAI team, which she also posted on X (formerly Twitter), describing the timing as feeling right for her departure.
In her note, Murati expressed gratitude for her time at the company, saying, “There’s never an ideal time to step away from a place one cherishes, yet this moment feels right.” Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, responded with admiration, noting the personal and professional significance of her contributions, especially during the company’s pivotal moments. Murati briefly led the company last year during a board dispute that saw Altman temporarily ousted.
While Murati’s successor has not been named, her decision adds to the growing list of high-profile departures from OpenAI. In recent months, several key figures, including Ilya Sutskever and Jan Leike, left the company. The leadership shake-ups began following the internal crisis last year that temporarily removed Altman, but ultimately saw him return with an all-new board after widespread staff unrest and investor intervention.
Murati joined OpenAI in 2018, leaving behind roles at Tesla and Leap Motion. When she started, OpenAI was still a small nonprofit research lab. Since then, the organization has dramatically expanded, driven by the global success of ChatGPT, evolving from a nonprofit model into a commercial powerhouse. OpenAI’s influence on the AI landscape has attracted billions in investments, with Murati at the forefront of much of this transformation.
Her exit marks the latest in a series of shifts within the company’s leadership, as it navigates both the success and scrutiny that come with leading the charge in AI development. Murati’s next steps remain undisclosed, and her departure date has not yet been finalized, with conversations ongoing to ensure a smooth transition.
This shift reflects a broader trend within OpenAI, where former top executives have ventured into founding new AI companies. Among them is Ilya Sutskever, who recently launched Safe Superintelligence, and Dario Amodei, who co-founded Anthropic in 2021, now a key competitor in the AI space.
Read more at Wired.
