Bob McGrew, former lead researcher at OpenAI and key developer of ChatGPT, has joined Mira Murati’s AI startup, Thinking Machines Lab.
On Tuesday, Business Insider reported that while the exact date of McGrew’s arrival is unclear, he has recently been listed as an advisor on the Thinking Machines Lab website. McGrew is set to collaborate on a new AI project with Alec Radford, another prominent researcher from OpenAI.
McGrew’s move aligns with the growing trend of OpenAI employees migrating to Murati’s startup. Upon leaving OpenAI last September, he stated that it was time for a break after an eight-year journey. He stayed on for two months to support the research team’s transition before departing.
Thinking Machines Lab’s 38 member team now consists of half former OpenAI employees. Co-founder John Schulman serves as Chief Scientist, while ChatGPT developer Barret Zoph has taken on the role of Chief Technology Officer (CTO).
Murati unveiled Thinking Machines Lab in February, outlining her vision to establish the foundations of AI and make it widely accessible through open science and practical applications. At the time of the announcement, the startup was reportedly seeking $1 billion in funding at a valuation of approximately $9 billion.