Mira Murati, former chief technology officer at OpenAI, has been appointed interim CEO, succeeding co-founder Sam Altman. OpenAI's board emphasized her "unique skill set" for a seamless transition while the search for a permanent CEO is underway. Despite holding the CTO title, she operated as the head of operations, ensuring on-time development of products like ChatGPT. Her role extended to managing relationships with Microsoft and shaping AI policy in Washington and Europe. A mechanical engineer educated in Canada, Murati's AI journey began at Tesla, motivating her to join OpenAI in 2018. The company, initially a nonprofit, restructured for substantial funding to advance AI technologies.
Here’re are 10 interesting points to know about Mira Murati:
1. Leadership Transition: Mira Murati has been appointed as the interim chief executive of OpenAI, replacing Sam Altman, the co-founder and former CEO.
2. Background at OpenAI: Despite officially holding the position of chief technology officer, Ms. Murati has been actively involved in overseeing the company's operations, particularly the development and delivery of products like ChatGPT and DALL-E.
3. Seamless Transition: OpenAI's board of directors believes that Mira Murati's "unique skill set" will facilitate a smooth transition while the company conducts a formal search for a permanent CEO.
4. Operational Role: Former and current employees indicate that Mira Murati has played a pivotal role in the company's operations, ensuring timely development of AI technologies and managing relationships with partners like Microsoft.
5. Microsoft's Perspective: Satya Nadella, Microsoft's CEO, praises Mira Murati for her ability to assemble teams with technical expertise and commercial acumen, contributing to the development of groundbreaking AI technologies.
6. Educational and Professional Background: Born in Albania and educated in Canada, Mira Murati is a mechanical engineer by training. She joined OpenAI in 2018, with previous experience at Tesla and Leap Motion.
7. Role at Tesla: During her time at Tesla, Mira Murati played a key role in the development of the Model X car, which exposed her to the field of artificial intelligence.
8. Transition to OpenAI: OpenAI initially hired Mira Murati as its vice president of applied A.I. and partnerships when it was a nonprofit organization. The company later restructured as a for-profit entity to secure funding for its AI projects.
9. Philosophical Perspective: Mira Murati expresses a belief in the transformative potential of building intelligence, stating that elevating and increasing collective human intelligence is an inspiring mission.
10. Public Engagement: As OpenAI's image generator, DALL-E, and text generator, ChatGPT, gained popularity, Mira Murati took part in various public engagements, including appearances on "The Daily Show," Bloomberg TV, and at conferences, emphasizing the importance of responsible and safe AI development.
Also Read | What Factors Contributed to the Abrupt Departure of AI Advocate Sam Altman from OpenAI
