She led OpenAI for a weekend… But who is Mira Murati?

The company that develops ChatGPT got into turmoil when it ousted Sam Altman as CEO. But, to manage the situation, she was able to put in charge a trusted person, whom we still knew little about.

It is in the midst of chaos that certain shadowy faces can find themselves in the spotlight. To some extent, this is what happened to Mira Murati, interim leader of OpenAI after her boss left.

Finally, it is not entirely an unknown factor. Indeed, this trained engineer was one of the most important people in the development of ChatGPT and Dall-E. This is a good reason to be interested in this character with a CV that is as short as it is impressive.

A mechanical engineer passionate about artificial intelligence

Born in Albania in 1988 to two teaching parents, Murati completed most of her higher education in Canada. She obtained a degree in mechanical engineering there, and left her course with the notable achievement of having designed a hybrid racing car. Whether there’s a direct connection or not, she went on to work for Tesla, helping to develop what could be considered the brand’s most unique vehicle: the Model X.

It was at the American manufacturer that she became passionate about artificial intelligence, and she headed to Leap Motion, a start-up specializing in capturing hand movements for augmented reality. It was finally in 2018 that Murati landed at OpenAI, which was then still only a non-profit organization.

She eventually took on the role of chief technology officer in 2022, becoming one of the most important figures in what has since become a company in its own right. She thus plays a very active role in the development of OpenAI products, to the point of being presented as the “ creator of ChatGPT » by the newspaper The Times.

And, this title does not come out of nowhere. Internally, Murati was considered by some of her colleagues to be the company’s chief operating officer. She oversaw the development and distribution of ChatGPT and Dall-E. She has also been a key link in the relationship between OpenAI and Microsoft, a major investor in the company. Finally, it was an important element in discussions with Brussels or Washington on the subject of artificial intelligence.

The best captain for a sinking ship?

Since joining OpenAI, the 34-year-old has demonstrated a real passion for her profession. As proof, this summer, she declared in public: “ What is more inspiring than raising and increasing the collective intelligence of humanity? » Murati’s determination and experience eventually made her one of the most important figures in her company.

“ She has demonstrated the ability to bring together teams with technical expertise, business acumen and a deep appreciation of the importance of the mission said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. “ Mira has helped develop some of the most exciting artificial intelligence technologies we have ever seen. »

It is therefore not for nothing that she was responsible for acting as interim until the arrival of the former boss of Twitch, and this, during the most complicated episode that OpenAI has experienced in this day. It remains to be seen whether Murati will continue to play a significant role in the company after Sam Altman returns.

Source : The New York Times