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Thinking Machines Lab

Category: Foundation Models / LLMs

An AI research lab and Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) dedicated to building collaborative general intelligence and tools that democratize the customization of frontier AI models. Thinking Machines Lab was founded in 2024. The company is led by Mira Murati. Based in San Francisco, USA. Team size: 30-100. Total funding raised: $2.0B. Latest round: Seed ($2.0B, Jul 2025). Key investors include ["Andreessen Horowitz (a16z)","Nvidia","AMD","Cisco","Jane Street","Accel","ServiceNow","Lightspeed Venture Partners"].

Founded
2024
Headquarters
San Francisco, USA
Team size
30-100
Total funding
$2.0B

Value proposition

Democratizes access to frontier AI by providing high-level abstractions that automate the complexity of distributed training and fine-tuning, removing the GPU infrastructure bottleneck.

Products and solutions

["Tinker: A cloud-based API/tool for automating the creation and fine-tuning of custom frontier AI models.","Multimodal Foundation Models: Research-driven AI systems designed for natural human interaction via sight, conversation, and collaboration.","Distributed Training Infrastructure-as-a-Service: Managed pipelines for large-scale model experimentation.","Open Science Frameworks: Open-source components and research contributions aimed at advancing the global understanding of frontier AI."]

Unique value

Focuses on 'Collaborative General Intelligence' (CGI)—AI designed specifically for human-machine synergy rather than replacement—operating under a Public Benefit Corporation structure led by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati.

Target customer

AI researchers, developers, startups, and enterprise organizations requiring custom frontier model capabilities without managing complex infrastructure.

Industries served

["Artificial Intelligence","Enterprise Software","Academic Research & Higher Education","Cloud Computing & Infrastructure"]

Technology advantage

Combines a 'star-studded' team of ex-OpenAI researchers with massive capital ($2B seed) to provide proprietary distributed training abstractions that simplify frontier model development for non-specialist organizations.

How they differentiate

Operates as a Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) focusing on 'Collaborative General Intelligence' (CGI)—AI designed for human-machine synergy rather than replacement—while offering 'Tinker,' a platform that automates the complexity of distributed training for custom frontier models.

Main competitors

["OpenAI","Anthropic","Safe Superintelligence (SSI)"]

Key partnerships

["Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) - Lead Investor","Strategic Tech Partners: Nvidia, AMD, Cisco, and ServiceNow","Academic Research Partners: Stanford University and Princeton University (early users)","Financial Partners: Jane Street, Accel, and Lightspeed Venture Partners"]

Notable customers

["Stanford University","Princeton University"]

Major milestones

["Founded in late 2024 by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati and key technical leads","Secured a landmark $2B Seed round led by a16z in July 2025","Launched 'Tinker,' a cloud-based API for automating the creation and fine-tuning of custom frontier AI models","Established strategic partnerships with major hardware and enterprise software providers including Nvidia and ServiceNow"]

Growth metrics

Achieved a record-breaking $12B valuation at the Seed stage; rapidly scaled team to 30-100 employees including top-tier researchers from OpenAI and Google DeepMind.

Market positioning

Frontier AI research lab and high-end enterprise infrastructure provider

Geographic focus

North America (San Francisco), Global

Patents and IP

No registered patents disclosed as of latest update; the company emphasizes a culture of 'open science' alongside proprietary software abstractions.

About Mira Murati

Former Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI (2018–2024) where she led the development of ChatGPT, GPT-4, DALL-E, and Sora. Previously served as Senior Product Manager at Tesla (2013–2016) leading Model X development, and VP of Product and Engineering at Leap Motion.

Official website: