An ex-OpenAI employee who helped build ChatGPT quietly launched a startup — and Mira Murati is an investor

Angela Jiang, a former product manager at OpenAI, has officially launched her own AI startup named Worktrace AI. This venture is notably supported by Mira Murati, the ex-CTO of OpenAI, who is also behind the enigmatic startup Thinking Machines Lab. Worktrace AI aims to streamline business operations by helping companies identify and automate repetitive tasks through employee observation. The startup has been in discussions to secure a seed funding round of $10 million at a valuation of $50 million, according to internal communications reviewed by Business Insider. While the company has established a presence online via its website and LinkedIn, it has yet to make any formal public announcements about its launch. Notably, Jiang's co-founder, Deepak Vasisht, an assistant professor of computer science at the University of Illinois, has not commented on this new venture either. The startup reflects a growing trend in Silicon Valley, where there is increasing interest in AI technologies capable of learning and mimicking human tasks. This follows recent announcements from OpenAI regarding new methods to evaluate model performance on practical tasks, such as drafting legal documents. Worktrace AI has garnered support from a number of prominent figures associated with OpenAI, including Nick Turley, who leads ChatGPT, and Jason Kwon, OpenAI's chief strategy officer. Additionally, Joanne Jang, who was pivotal in shaping ChatGPT's functionality, is also part of the investor group backing Worktrace AI. The startup is also receiving funding from OpenAI's startup fund and well-known venture capital firms such as 8VC and Conviction. Jiang, who was the third product manager at OpenAI, played a crucial role in the development of the models that led to the viral success of ChatGPT in late 2022. After serving on OpenAI's public policy team, she departed the company in December 2024. The rise of Worktrace AI is indicative of a broader trend where former OpenAI employees are establishing their own highly valued startups. Noteworthy examples include Thinking Machines Lab, which recently closed a staggering $2 billion seed funding round, and Safe Superintelligence, valued at $32 billion. Additionally, Periodic Labs, co-founded by a researcher involved in the creation of ChatGPT, recently raised $300 million to advance the development of "AI scientists."