Jonathan Lachman, formerly head of special projects at OpenAI, recently left to join an ambitious new AI research startup launched by former OpenAI executive Mira Murati. This hire is Murati’s most significant since she departed from OpenAI last year to establish her own lab, focusing on artificial intelligence research, according to insiders familiar with the matter.
Murati’s latest venture is still in the early stages, operating without an official name or clearly defined product roadmap. Despite these early uncertainties, the startup has managed to attract top industry talent. Lachman’s move marks about the tenth prominent departure from OpenAI in recent months, signaling a potential shift in AI talent and leadership within the industry.
High-Profile Departure from OpenAI
Jonathan Lachman’s departure from his role as head of special projects at OpenAI was confirmed by an OpenAI spokesperson. Murati and Lachman, however, did not immediately comment on this development. Lachman’s move marks a significant talent shift in the competitive AI landscape.
Murati, previously a central figure at OpenAI, left the organization following a turbulent period triggered by the firing and rapid reinstatement of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. During this controversial leadership upheaval, Murati briefly stepped in as interim CEO, prompting substantial internal unrest. Altman described her temporary appointment as a particularly challenging moment, though he later regained his position following strong employee support.
After leaving OpenAI, Murati communicated her desire for personal exploration and innovation. In her farewell note, she explained her decision: “There’s never a perfect moment to leave a place you love, but I needed space and time to explore new opportunities.” Soon after, reports indicated Murati sought over $100 million in funding for her new AI venture.
A Wave of High-Profile Departures
Murati isn’t alone in venturing beyond OpenAI. Notably, Barriers to Zophisticated AI Safety attracted key figures like Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI’s former chief scientist, who founded Safe Superintelligence. Remarkably, Sutskever’s startup raised $1 billion just three months after launch. Another significant competitor, Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI executives, similarly secured massive funding, highlighting the competitive and rapidly evolving AI ecosystem.
Murati’s startup has successfully recruited around her vision, poaching roughly a dozen researchers and engineers from high-profile firms like OpenAI, Character.ai, and Google DeepMind. While Murati’s exact strategic plans remain closely guarded, the growing talent pool clearly signals a bold ambition to redefine AI research.
With significant figures like Lachman joining her team, Murati’s new venture positions itself as a formidable player in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
