The AI genius behind ChatGPT turns down Meta’s offer, staying loyal to her vision at Thinking Machines Lab
In Silicon Valley, turning down a $1 billion offer from Mark Zuckerberg sounds like fiction. But that’s exactly what happened when Mira Murati, former Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI, said “no thanks” to Meta’s buyout proposal.
Zuckerberg, hoping to supercharge Meta’s AI game, reportedly approached Murati’s new venture — Thinking Machines Lab — with a generous offer to acquire the company. When she refused, he allegedly tried hiring away key engineers from her 50-person team, including co-founder Andrew Tulloch. The bold raid failed.
Who Is Mira Murati — And What Is Thinking Machines Lab?
Mira Murati is not just another tech exec. She’s been at the heart of the modern AI revolution — helping lead the creation of ChatGPT, DALL·E, and Codex while at OpenAI.
After stepping down as CTO, she launched Thinking Machines Lab, a boutique AI research company focused on ethical, open-source, and transparent artificial intelligence.
Her vision? Build intelligent systems that solve real-world problems without selling out to Big Tech — and do it with a strong moral compass.
Why Say No to Meta’s $1B Offer?
For most, a billion-dollar deal from Zuckerberg would be irresistible. But Mira’s decision makes sense when you look at her values:
- Independence Over Influence: Selling to Meta would mean giving up control of her company’s direction — something Mira wasn’t ready to compromise.
- Ethics at the Core: Thinking Machines Lab is grounded in responsible AI. That mission may not align with Meta’s fast-paced, data-driven ambitions.
- A Bigger Purpose: Mira wants to reimagine what AI can be — not just a product, but a tool to uplift humanity, empower developers, and protect user privacy.
AI Isn’t Just Tech — It’s Power
The AI talent war is on fire:
- Tech giants like Meta, Google, Microsoft, xAI, and Anthropic are racing to dominate.
- Engineers and researchers are being offered millions to switch sides.
- AI tools like GitHub Copilot now write code faster than ever, making junior devs 2x more productive.
But as Mira’s story shows, it’s not always about the paycheck. It’s about what kind of future we’re building.
AI: A Future Full of Opportunities (and Challenges)
From self-driving cars to disease prediction, AI is entering every part of life. That means jobs — but also big ethical questions.
AI may create millions of new roles, from AI ethics specialists to model trainers. But it also threatens entry-level jobs, especially in software and support.
Mira Murati’s stance suggests we need more than innovation. We need responsibility. She once said:
“We are building the most powerful tool of our time. We have to do it right.”
Final Thought
Mira Murati could’ve taken the $1 billion and walked away. But she didn’t.
She chose vision over value, ethics over ego, and mission over money.
In a world where AI is shaping everything — coding, communication, and even creativity — it’s leaders like her who remind us that the real power lies not in algorithms, but in decisions guided by values.