Mira Murati - Who is the woman who refused the $1 billion offer from Meta?

Mira Murati has been behind a number of successful AI projects at OpenAI, including ChatGPT, DALL·E, Codex, and most recently, Sora. Known as the “intellectual heart” of AI strategy, Murati has helped shape the way humans interact with artificial intelligence in modern life.

Mira Murati – the woman whose AI vision goes beyond billion-dollar figures. (Source: Getty Images)

Mira Murati was born in Vlore, Albania – contrary to some rumors that she is of Indian descent. After studying in Canada, she moved to the United States to pursue her passion for advanced technology. Murati graduated from Colby College with a degree in Mathematics and then earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Dartmouth College (Thayer School of Engineering) in 2012.

Prior to joining OpenAI, she worked at leading corporations such as Zodiac Aerospace, Tesla, and Leap Motion, where she gained significant experience in high-tech and human-machine interfaces.

In February 2025, Murati founded Thinking Machines Lab, a startup valued at nearly $12 billion without launching a product. The company’s mission is to develop AI tools that are accessible, customizable, and transparent—and to disrupt the tech monopoly of Silicon Valley’s “big guys.”

Meta, which is run by Mark Zuckerberg, has offered $200 million to $1 billion to either acquire Thinking Machines Lab or lure Murati to its AI Superintelligence team. Murati’s response was a clear no: “So far, no one on the team has accepted that offer.”

At the World Economic Forum 2025 in Davos, Murati once said: “AI without values is intelligence without conscience.” She currently advises the European Commission on AI policy – a rare role for a startup founder.

Mira Murati at a talk on artificial intelligence – where she not only spreads the ideal of humanistic technology. (Source: Getty Images)

Although there are no official figures, Mira Murati’s personal wealth is estimated to be between $5–10 million. However, her real worth lies in her influence in the AI community and her iconic decisions.

Mira Murati isn’t just the woman who said “No” to $1 billion – she represents a new trend in the tech industry: Embracing ethics, transparency, and broad access to AI.