OpenAI co-founder John Schulman, who recently departed from AI startup Anthropic after just five months, is reportedly joining forces with former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati at her highly secretive new venture, according to Fortune.
While details about Schulman’s specific role remain unclear, the move signals a significant reunion of top-tier AI talent under Murati’s leadership. Since leaving OpenAI in September, Murati has kept tight-lipped about her new project, but sources indicate she has been actively recruiting former OpenAI colleagues to join her team. Among them is Christian Gibson, a key member of OpenAI’s supercomputing team.
Murati’s ambitious plans for the startup are evident: she was reportedly in talks to raise over $100 million for the company as of October. The influx of funding and high-profile hires underscores the potential scale and impact of her venture, though its exact focus remains shrouded in mystery.
Schulman’s Journey: From OpenAI to Anthropic, and Now Back to Familiar Ground
Credited as one of the masterminds behind ChatGPT, Schulman initially left OpenAI in August 2023 to join Anthropic, where he hoped to deepen his focus on AI alignment—the critical discipline of ensuring artificial intelligence behaves as intended. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Schulman explained that his decision stemmed from a desire to engage in more hands-on technical work and advance the field of alignment.
However, his tenure at Anthropic proved short-lived. After just five months, Schulman exited the company, leaving many to speculate about his next move. His reported decision to join Murati’s startup suggests a shared vision for tackling some of AI’s most pressing challenges.
A Reunion of AI Titans
The collaboration between Schulman and Murati marks a reunion of two influential figures in the AI world. Schulman’s expertise in reinforcement learning and AI alignment complements Murati’s leadership in scaling transformative technologies like ChatGPT. Together, they represent a formidable team capable of driving groundbreaking innovations.
The addition of other ex-OpenAI staff, such as Christian Gibson, further strengthens the startup’s technical prowess. Gibson’s experience in supercomputing could prove invaluable as the company likely ventures into developing advanced AI models or infrastructure.
What’s Next for Murati’s Venture?
While Murati has yet to disclose specifics about her startup’s mission or product, the recruitment of top AI researchers and engineers points to ambitious goals. Given the team’s pedigree, it’s plausible the company will focus on advancing AI safety, alignment, or even creating next-generation models that push the boundaries of what’s possible.
The reported $100 million fundraising effort also hints at the startup’s potential to compete with industry giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, and others. With Schulman and other key players on board, Murati’s venture could emerge as a major player in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Why This Matters
The convergence of talent from OpenAI and Anthropic underscores the intense competition and collaboration shaping the AI industry. As companies race to develop safer, more capable AI systems, startups led by visionary leaders like Murati and Schulman have the potential to redefine the field.
For now, the world will have to wait and see what Murati’s enigmatic startup unveils. But one thing is certain: with Schulman and his peers on board, the venture is poised to make waves in the AI community.
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