Mira Murati, the Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI, has announced her resignation after over six years with the company. In a statement on social media platform X, Murati cited her desire to "create time and space" for personal exploration as the reason for her departure. She described her tenure at OpenAI as an "extraordinary privilege," expressing deep appreciation for the company's role at the forefront of AI innovation. Murati emphasized her commitment to ensuring a smooth transition as she leaves, stating, "It's hard to leave a company I will always cherish."

Murati's exit comes alongside the resignations of two other key figures: Barret Zoph, VP of Research, and Bob McGrew, Chief Research Officer. This wave of departures occurs during a critical period for OpenAI, which is currently negotiating a significant $6.5 billion funding round that could value the company at $150 billion. The funding is contingent on the company's plan to restructure into a for-profit benefit corporation, a move aimed at providing CEO Sam Altman with an equity stake.

The ongoing restructuring follows a tumultuous period for OpenAI, marked by Altman's brief ousting in November 2023 due to a breakdown in trust within the non-profit board overseeing the for-profit entity. Although Murati's resignation raises questions about its potential impact on fundraising efforts, she remains with the company during her exit negotiations.

Murati joined OpenAI in December 2020 as the VP of Applied AI and Partnerships and was promoted to CTO in May 2022. She briefly served as CEO in November 2023 and has been a prominent public figure for the company, notably leading the launch of the GPT-4o model in May.

In response to the executive changes, Altman expressed gratitude for Murati’s contributions and acknowledged the natural evolution of leadership in a rapidly growing organization. He plans to announce new transition strategies soon while also promoting several internal leaders.

The recent exits are part of a broader trend, as OpenAI has seen multiple co-founders depart this year, including John Schulman and Greg Brockman, who is currently on sabbatical.