MoneyJuly 15, 2026via Financial Times Technology
Mira Murati’s Thinking Machines draws from Chinese rivals in debut AI model
Why it matters
Former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati's well-funded startup is signaling a shift in model architecture philosophy by adopting techniques proven by Chinese labs, suggesting the competitive pressure from DeepSeek/ByteDance is forcing even well-capitalized US founders to rethink their approach.
Key signals
- Thinking Machines raised $2B at $12B valuation
- Founded by Mira Murati (former OpenAI CTO)
- Debut model incorporates design patterns from Chinese AI rivals
- Funding round completed in 2025
- Suggests convergence of US and Chinese model development strategies
The hook
$2B. That's what Mira Murati just raised for Thinking Machines—and her debut model is already borrowing playbook moves from Chinese competitors.
Former OpenAI CTO’s start-up raised $2bn last year at $12bn valuation