Mira Murati, the Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI, has resigned from her role, becoming the latest in a series of high-profile executive departures at the Microsoft-backed AI startup. Murati, who played a pivotal role in OpenAI’s technological advancements, announced her decision via a post on X (formerly Twitter), citing a desire to “create the time and space to do [her] own exploration.”
In her statement, Murati expressed gratitude to OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman, reflecting on the collective achievements in advancing AI technology. "I have made the difficult decision to leave OpenAI," she wrote, while acknowledging the team's efforts and collaboration during her tenure.
Murati’s resignation coincides with the exits of two other senior executives—Barret Zoph, VP of Research, and Bob McGrew, Chief Research Officer—both of whom left within hours of her announcement. The departures signal further leadership shakeups at OpenAI, which has seen several changes at the top this year.
These leadership transitions come at a critical juncture for OpenAI, as the company nears the completion of a $6.5 billion funding round that could value it at $150 billion, according to Reuters. The financing deal reportedly involves restructuring OpenAI into a for-profit benefit corporation, with Altman potentially gaining equity. It remains unclear how Murati’s departure may affect these negotiations, as investor agreements often include provisions for leadership changes that could influence the terms.
