AI Expert Mira Murati's Success Story: At first glance, her name might spark curiosity — it sounds like she could be from India. But Mira Murati, the former Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI and founder of new AI startup Thinking Machines Lab, has roots in a very different part of the world. She was born in the coastal city of Vlore, Albania. While her name may sound familiar to some, her story is uniquely her own.
Murati is not just another tech mind in Silicon Valley. She is a powerful force shaping the future of artificial intelligence. From a curious student in Albania to a bold leader at OpenAI, her journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. With a sharp intellect and relentless drive, she helped build groundbreaking tools like ChatGPT, DALL-E, and Codex. And if that was not enough, she made global headlines by turning down a billion dollars offer from Meta, choosing integrity and vision over valuation.
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Mira Murati made headlines after reportedly rejecting a massive $1 billion (Rs 8,350 Crore) offer from Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta. Her team, too, declined offers ranging from $200 million to $1 billion, refusing to join Meta’s Superintelligence Lab—signaling her firm stand on ethical AI development.
She was born on December 16, 1988, in Vlore, Albania, Mira spent her early childhood there before moving to Canada and later to the United States. Her multicultural upbringing and global experiences shaped the foundation for her journey into the upper echelons of the tech world.
At just 16, Mira earned a competitive scholarship to study at Pearson College UWC in Canada. That opportunity opened doors to top academic institutions and laid the groundwork for a future in STEM, where she would eventually become a pioneer in artificial intelligence.
Murati completed her undergraduate studies in mathematics at Colby College and later pursued mechanical engineering at Dartmouth College’s Thayer School of Engineering. She graduated in 2012, well-equipped with the skills and mindset to lead in technology innovation and problem-solving.
Mira began her professional career with internships at Goldman Sachs and Zodiac Aerospace. Her career followed by a stint at Tesla, where she worked on cutting-edge technologies. She then joined Leap Motion (now Ultraleap), gaining critical experience in human-computer interaction and immersive tech—setting the stage for her AI journey.
Mira joins OpenAI in 2018 as VP of Applied AI and Partnerships. She was later promoted to CTO in 2022. She led the development of revolutionary AI tools like ChatGPT, DALL·E, Codex, and Sora, becoming a central figure in the mainstream AI movement.
After her exit from OpenAI in late 2024, Mira launched her own company, Thinking Machines Lab, in February 2025. The startup aims to create AI products that are accessible and meaningful to the average person, bridging the gap between powerful tech and everyday users.
Her startup has raised 2 billion dollars (over 17,000 crore rupees) in funding. Its valuation has reached 12 billion dollars (over 1 lakh crore rupees).
According to media reports, her estimated net worth is between $5 million (Rs 41.75 crore) and $10 million (Rs 83.5 crore), Mira Murati is more celebrated for her ethical leadership in AI. Her refusal to join Meta’s lab reinforces her commitment to responsible innovation and independence in an industry often driven by power and profit. (Image Credit: Social Media)
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