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The company’s interim C.E.O. has been managing the development and distribution of ChatGPT and DALL-E for years.
For years, Mira Murati has been a driving force at OpenAI, overseeing the creation and launch of groundbreaking products like ChatGPT and DALL-E. Now, she steps into a more prominent role as the interim chief executive of the renowned company.
At 34 years old, Ms. Murati took the helm following the departure of Sam Altman, the co-founder, and former CEO, as confirmed by OpenAI’s board of directors. Her appointment aims to ensure a smooth transition while the company conducts a formal search for a permanent CEO, leveraging her “unique skill set.”
Despite carrying the title of chief technology officer since the previous year, insiders revealed that Ms. Murati has effectively been operating as the company’s head of operations. Her focus has encompassed ensuring the timely development of ChatGPT iterations, managing OpenAI’s relationship with Microsoft, and contributing significantly to shaping the company’s AI policy in global arenas like Washington and Europe.
Her prowess in assembling teams with technical prowess and business insight, coupled with a deep commitment to the company’s mission, has garnered praise from industry leaders. Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, commended her ability to craft some of the most exciting AI technologies.
Hailing from Albania and educated in Canada with a background in mechanical engineering, Ms. Murati showcased her engineering prowess early on by building a hybrid racecar during her undergraduate years at Dartmouth College. Her career journey includes impactful roles at Tesla, where she contributed significantly to the Model X car, and at Leap Motion, a startup specializing in hand and finger motion tracking systems.
Ms. Murati’s introduction to AI during her tenure at Tesla fueled her passion for the field, leading her to join OpenAI initially as the vice president of applied AI and partnerships. Her vision aligned with the organization’s original purpose as a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that artificial general intelligence would benefit humanity. Subsequently, OpenAI transitioned into a for-profit entity to secure the substantial resources needed for AI technology development.
Emphasizing the profound impact of building intelligence, Ms. Murati’s commitment to elevating collective human intelligence remains a driving force behind her work. Her contributions at OpenAI were within a leadership team that included Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, and Wojciech Zaremba. As a key member of this team, she played a pivotal role in executing decisions throughout the company.
Ms. Murati took charge of the distribution of groundbreaking technologies like DALL-E and ChatGPT, which captivated millions of users upon their launch. Her efforts to bring these innovations into public awareness were reflected in appearances on platforms like “The Daily Show,” Bloomberg TV, and various conferences.
Speaking about the importance of responsibly introducing these technologies to the public, Ms. Murati emphasized the need to engage with the public while ensuring safety and ethical considerations.