San Francisco, CA — Thinking Machines Lab, the stealthy AI startup founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, has officially raised an astonishing $2 billion in its seed funding round, catapulting its valuation to $12 billion. The round, led by venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz, also saw major investments from tech powerhouses including Nvidia, Accel, AMD, Cisco, ServiceNow, and Jane Street.
This early-stage round ranks among the largest in Silicon Valley history, a testament to the immense investor confidence in Murati’s vision—even though the company has yet to release a product or research publicly.
Backed by Tech’s Biggest Names
Although just under a year old, Thinking Machines Lab is quickly gaining attention as one of the most promising new players in the race to build cutting-edge artificial intelligence systems. The startup’s strong founding team and elite backers have already positioned it as a potential rival to leading labs like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind.
“This round reflects the depth of belief the tech community has in our mission,” said a company spokesperson, confirming the funding and valuation to TechCrunch.
First Product Coming Soon, with Open Source at Its Core
While the company has kept most details under wraps, Murati offered a glimpse into what’s coming. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she hinted that Thinking Machines Lab will launch its first product in the next few months and that it will include a “significant open source offering.”
The product is designed to help both researchers and startups build customized AI models, suggesting a developer-first strategy. “We’ll also share our best science to help the research community better understand frontier AI systems,” Murati wrote.
The company hasn’t confirmed whether this means they’ll release an open-source AI model to compete with the likes of OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Meta’s LLaMA. A spokesperson declined to offer more details for now.
Recruiting Top Talent from OpenAI
Since launching, Murati has quietly brought on some familiar faces from her OpenAI days. The team now includes top talent like John Schulman, Barret Zoph, and Luke Metz—individuals known for their roles in developing foundational AI technologies.
According to the company’s website, Thinking Machines Lab is actively hiring, particularly looking for individuals with experience in launching AI-driven products from scratch.
Meta Expressed Interest, but No Deal Finalized
Reports suggest that Meta held discussions with Thinking Machines Lab in recent months as part of its effort to accelerate development of superintelligence systems. However, the talks didn’t result in an acquisition offer.
Meta’s interest signals how seriously the industry is taking Thinking Machines Lab, despite the startup still operating in stealth mode.
Partnership with Google Cloud
Thinking Machines Lab has already signed a deal with Google Cloud to support its computing needs, giving it the infrastructure required to develop and train large AI models. This positions the company well to build frontier models capable of rivaling the biggest names in AI.
Facing the AI Giants
Despite the enormous funding and top-tier team, the road ahead won’t be easy. The AI space is crowded with billion-dollar players all racing to push the limits of what’s possible. From OpenAI’s GPT-5 research to Google DeepMind’s Gemini models and Anthropic’s Claude series, competition is fierce.
Still, investors and analysts believe Murati’s startup has a real shot. With a focus on transparency, research, and open-source collaboration, Thinking Machines Lab could differentiate itself in a field dominated by closed ecosystems.
Looking Ahead
With $2 billion in the bank and a $12 billion valuation, all eyes are now on what Mira Murati and her team unveil next. If her previous work at OpenAI is any indication, Thinking Machines Lab may soon emerge as a powerful force reshaping the future of artificial intelligence.
Key Highlights
- $2 Billion Seed Round: Led by Andreessen Horowitz with participation from Nvidia, Accel, AMD, Cisco, and more.
- $12 Billion Valuation: One of the highest for a seed-stage startup in history.
- Open Source Focus: Murati promises a transparent, research-forward product to be revealed in coming months.
- Top Talent Onboard: Several ex-OpenAI engineers have joined the company.
- Cloud Partnership: Deal with Google Cloud to support model development and training.
- Meta Talks: Acquisition discussions with Meta were held but did not progress to a final offer.
What’s Next for Thinking Machines Lab?
Murati’s startup is gearing up to share its first major product—promising tools for researchers and startups alike. With a bold open-source promise and the backing of Silicon Valley’s elite, Thinking Machines Lab could shift the balance in the ongoing AI race.
For now, the industry is watching—and waiting.
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