Thinking Machines Lab is a U.S.-based artificial intelligence (AI) research and product company launched in early 2025 by Mira Murati, the former CTO of OpenAI, together with several leading AI scientists from OpenAI and other top research labs. The company’s mission is to build AI systems that are more widely understood, customisable, and generally capable, designed to collaborate with humans rather than replace them.
Why you need to know about them
Massive funding and valuation: Thinking Machines Lab raised around US$2 billion in its seed round and reached a valuation of roughly US$10–12 billion within months of launch, one of the largest early-stage funding rounds in history.
High-profile team: The founding group includes well-known researchers formerly at OpenAI, such as John Schulman and Barrett Zoph, signalling that the company aims to operate at the very frontier of AI research and product development.
Focus on multimodal and collaborative AI: Thinking Machines is building AI that can process and understand multiple forms of input, like sight, sound, and language, while working alongside humans in complex, collaborative ways.
Global implications: Because Thinking Machines is pushing the limits of AI capability, its tools and frameworks could influence many downstream technologies worldwide. For those in South Africa’s tech space, from software developers to data scientists, understanding this direction helps identify where the global industry is heading and what skills will be in demand.
What they’re working on (and why it matters)
Thinking Machines Lab is currently focused on developing:
- Core “foundation” models capable of reasoning across disciplines like science, programming, and research.
- Customisable AI systems that can adapt to users’ goals, values, and context rather than offering a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Transparent research and collaboration, through open engagement with the AI community.
Why this matters:
If successful, Thinking Machines’ models could become foundational infrastructure for future AI applications across business, government, and education. Their approach to adaptability could make advanced AI tools more accessible to smaller companies and developing markets, including South Africa. They’re also setting new expectations for what developers, engineers, and analysts need to know: fine-tuning large models, managing domain-specific data, and integrating multimodal AI inputs.
What this means for South Africa’s tech ecosystem
- Skills alignment: As frontier AI advances, local tech professionals will need to understand how to work with, fine-tune, and deploy large models responsibly.
- Startup opportunities: If Thinking Machines delivers on its promise of accessible, modular AI, South African startups could use these tools to build solutions in healthcare, agriculture, fintech, and mining, industries with vast data but limited automation.
- Competitive advantage: Staying informed about major global players like Thinking Machines gives South African developers and founders a strategic edge when deciding where to focus their careers or products.
- Ethics and governance: The company’s emphasis on human–AI collaboration underlines the growing need for responsible AI development, a critical issue for emerging markets building their digital infrastructure.
Things to watch / potential challenges
- Unknown timelines: Despite its massive funding, the company is still early-stage and has yet to release detailed product information.
- Strong competition: Thinking Machines joins a crowded field with OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Anthropic, and others already competing at the highest level.
- Accessibility vs exclusivity: Although the company emphasises democratising AI, it remains to be seen whether its tools will truly become available to smaller players outside major tech ecosystems.
Key takeaway
Thinking Machines Lab is one of the most significant new entrants in AI, led by some of the brightest minds in the field. Its vision, building adaptable, collaborative, and transparent AI, could redefine how technology interacts with human intelligence. For South Africans working in or entering the tech industry, following Thinking Machines’ progress is essential: the company’s breakthroughs may shape the tools, skills, and opportunities of the next decade.
