Former OpenAI CTO Launches New Company, Thinking Machines

The AI industry has been abuzz with the news of former OpenAI CTO, Mira Murati, launching her new company, Thinking Machines. While the announcement provides little detail about what the company is building, the team includes top AI researchers from OpenAI, Meta, and DeepMind. Their focus is on making AI easier to understand, customize, and apply to actual needs.

Introduction to Thinking Machines

This is the caption for the image 1 The announcement of Thinking Machines has sparked a lot of interest and curiosity in the AI community. Mira Murati, the former CTO of OpenAI, has assembled a team of renowned AI researchers from top companies like OpenAI, Meta, and DeepMind. The company's mission is to make AI more accessible, customizable, and applicable to real-world needs.

The Team Behind Thinking Machines

The team at Thinking Machines includes notable names from the AI research community. Verett, OpenAI's former VP of post-training research, is taking on the CTO role, while OpenAI co-founder John Schulman is serving as Chief Scientist. The team's expertise and experience in AI research are expected to drive the company's mission forward.

The Vision of Thinking Machines

This is the caption for the image 2 Mira Murati tweeted about the launch of Thinking Machines, stating that the company is building three things: helping people adapt AI systems to work for their specific needs, developing strong foundations to build more capable AI systems, and fostering a culture of open science that helps the whole field understand and improve these systems. The goal is to advance AI by making it broadly useful and understandable.

The Unclear Roadmap of Thinking Machines

This is the caption for the image 3 While the vision of Thinking Machines is ambitious, the roadmap is unclear. Some critics have pointed out that the announcement lacks concrete details about what the company is building. Cosmic Chaos commented, "Good luck, but I'm still not sure what exactly you are building. Is it one product that does all three or separately? Is it a service or a product?" The lack of clarity has led to speculation and debate about the company's direction.

The Demise of Humane

This is the caption for the image 4 In contrast to the uncertainty surrounding Thinking Machines, the AI wearable startup Humane has officially shut down. The company announced that its AI wearable, the Humane Pin, would be discontinued, and customers were given only 10 days' notice. The Humane Pin was a bold attempt at creating an AI assistant but failed to gain traction due to its high price point, poor reviews, and technical issues.

Lessons from Humane's Failure

This is the caption for the image 5 The failure of Humane provides some lessons for the AI industry. Investor Justin Duke commented that Humane was a relic of a bygone era, when massive checks were flying around Silicon Valley. Chris Back, an entrepreneur, noted that Humane is a cautionary tale of how talented people can get distorted from reality by staying at large, successful companies for too long. The failure of Humane also raises questions about the state of AI wearables in general.

The Future of AI Wearables

This is the caption for the image 6 While Humane's failure may be a setback for AI wearables, it is not a death knell for the industry. Newsletter writer Jack Applebe noted that the future of AI isn't new hardware, but upgrading existing software. Al Dwayne commented that AI hardware will only succeed when it's 100% local, with no cloud or API dependencies. The success of Rayband's Meta AI glasses suggests that there is still a market for AI wearables. Ultimately, the failure of Humane serves as a reminder that the development of AI wearables is an ongoing process of trial and error.

Conclusion

The launch of Thinking Machines and the demise of Humane are two significant events in the AI industry. While Thinking Machines' vision is ambitious, its roadmap is unclear. The failure of Humane provides some lessons for the industry, but it is not a definitive indicator of the future of AI wearables. As the industry continues to evolve, it is essential to stay informed and adapt to the changing landscape. The AI Daily Brief will continue to provide updates and insights on the latest developments in the AI industry.