OpenAI's CTO, Mira Murati, Will Leave the Company After Six and a Half Years

Research chief Bob McGrew and vice president Barret Zoph are also departing the company.

Murati wrote in a memo to the company that she’s “stepping away because I want to create the time and space to do my own exploration.” She said her focus will be on ensuring a “smooth transition.”

“After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to leave OpenAI,” she wrote in a post published on social media site X. “There’s never an ideal time to step away from a place one cherishes, yet this moment feels right.”

Meanwhile, OpenAI’s board is considering plans to restructure the firm into a for-profit business with a more straightforward structure for investors.

Currently backed by Microsoft, OpenAI is pursuing a funding round that would value the company at more than $150 billion.

Thrive Capital is leading the round and plans to invest $1 billion.

Microsoft, Nvidia, and Apple are reportedly in talks about investing.