Hello followers! Today, we’re diving into the exciting world of artificial intelligence with a fresh update on an innovative startup.

Thinking Machines Lab, founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, just secured a staggering $2 billion in seed funding, valuing it at approximately $12 billion. The funding round was led by Andreessen Horowitz and included heavyweights like NVIDIA, Accel, and Cisco, making it one of the largest seed rounds in Silicon Valley history.

This new AI company has kept its projects under wraps, but Murati hinted that they’ll soon unveil a major product with open-source options aimed at researchers and startups building custom AI models. She emphasized the company’s focus on creating multimodal AI that interacts naturally—through conversation, sight, and collaboration—making AI more aligned with human ways of working.

While details remain limited, there’s buzz that Thinking Machines Lab could release open AI models, similar to or even rivaling current industry leaders. The startup has already attracted notable talent including former colleagues from OpenAI and has been in talks with Meta over potential acquisitions—though those talks didn’t progress to an offer.

Backed by substantial funding, Murati’s venture aims to challenge giants like OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Anthropic. They’ve also partnered with Google Cloud to power their models. With billions to invest, the startup plans to push the boundaries of AI research, hoping that breakthroughs will set it apart in a fiercely competitive field.

Despite the uphill battle, the company’s ambitions are sky-high. As Murati and her team work towards launching innovative AI solutions, we can expect significant advancements in collaborative general intelligence, shaping the future of AI technology.