A New AI Unicorn in the Making?
A new AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab, is making headlines. Founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, the company is reportedly seeking $1 billion in funding at a $9 billion valuation.
If successful, this would mark another AI startup with OpenAI ties securing massive investments. The deal is still in progress, and the final details may change. Business Insider has not yet disclosed potential investors, as the company just emerged from stealth mode this month.
A Star-Studded AI Team with OpenAI Ties
Mira Murati, who spent over six years at OpenAI, including a brief period as interim CEO, left the company in September. Since then, she has been actively recruiting top-tier talent, including 20 former OpenAI researchers.
Additionally, Thinking Machines has brought in AI experts from competitors like Meta and Mistral AI, reinforcing its ambition to become a major player in the AI innovation race.
It remains unclear whether Thinking Machines Lab has previously secured any funding. However, with its impressive lineup of talent and industry expertise, it is well-positioned to attract major investors.
Thinking Machines’ Vision: Open-Source, Adaptable AI
Unlike many proprietary AI models, Thinking Machines Lab aims to build open-source AI that is more flexible, adaptable, and personalized. According to the company’s official website:
“We see enormous potential for AI to help in every field of work. 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.”
By focusing on adaptability and open-source AI, the company differentiates itself from closed AI models, making it an attractive proposition for developers, enterprises, and researchers.
AI Startups with OpenAI Roots Continue to Dominate Investments
Thinking Machines Lab’s massive funding target follows a broader pattern where AI startups with OpenAI ties are securing billion-dollar investments:
Anthropic
- Founded by former OpenAI employees, Anthropic is backed by Google.
- It is reportedly closing a $3.5 billion funding round, bringing its valuation to $61.5 billion.
- The company has raised $14.7 billion so far.
Elon Musk’s xAI
- xAI, founded by Elon Musk, is negotiating a $10 billion funding round at a $75 billion valuation.
- The company previously raised $6 billion, bringing its total funding to $12.4 billion.
Safe Superintelligence
- Co-founded by former OpenAI Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever, the company raised $1 billion at a $5 billion valuation.
- Investors include Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital.
OpenAI’s Own Expansion
- OpenAI is reportedly securing $40 billion from SoftBank, raising its valuation to $260 billion.
- The Microsoft-backed company has already raised $21.9 billion, per Crunchbase.
The Rise of Early-Stage AI Unicorns
If Thinking Machines Lab secures its funding, it will join the growing list of AI unicorns.
Many AI startups now reach billion-dollar valuations at early stages, often within months of launching. This trend highlights the massive investor interest in artificial intelligence.
With top-tier talent, a strong vision, and an open-source approach, Thinking Machines Lab is positioning itself as a key player in the AI revolution.
