June 3, 2025 — Tirana, Albania
In a groundbreaking move that marks Albania’s entry into the global artificial intelligence (AI) arena, the Albanian government has officially invested $10 million in Thinking Machines Lab — the AI startup founded by renowned Albanian-American technologist and former OpenAI CTO, Mira Murati.
The investment is part of a larger $2 billion funding round led by top-tier venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, which places Thinking Machines Lab’s valuation at approximately $10 billion. Albania’s participation in the round not only reflects national pride in Murati’s success but also signals a strategic ambition to position the country as a technological innovator in the Balkans and beyond.
A New Era for Albania in Tech
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama hailed the investment as “a turning point” for the country’s digital future. “Mira Murati is not only a global pioneer in artificial intelligence but also a proud daughter of Albania,” Rama said during a press briefing. “We believe her company represents the future of ethical, transparent, and human-centric AI — a future we want Albania to be part of.”
This is the largest government-backed investment into a private AI venture in the country’s history.
Thinking Machines Lab: A Human-Centric AI Vision
Thinking Machines Lab, launched in early 2025, was founded with the mission to develop AI systems that are less opaque, more customizable, and better aligned with human needs. Unlike some AI companies focused on building autonomous agents, Murati’s startup aims to enhance collaboration between humans and AI through interpretable and controllable systems.
Murati, who played a leading role in the development of ChatGPT, DALL·E, and Codex during her time at OpenAI, has attracted some of the industry’s brightest minds to her new venture. The startup’s leadership team includes former researchers and executives from OpenAI, Meta, Anthropic, and Mistral. John Schulman, a co-founder of OpenAI, serves as Chief Scientist, and Barret Zoph — previously at Google Brain — has joined as CTO.
Albania’s Strategic Bet on the Future
The government’s investment comes as Albania ramps up efforts to digitize its infrastructure and modernize its economy. Officials say the partnership with Murati’s company could lead to AI-focused educational programs, research hubs, and pilot projects across public sectors such as health, education, and agriculture.
Experts believe this bold move could attract other global tech players to look toward Albania as a promising tech-friendly destination in Southeastern Europe.
Mira Murati: Bridging Innovation and National Identity
In a statement, Murati expressed gratitude for her homeland’s support. “This investment is deeply personal. I’ve always believed that innovation knows no borders, and I’m proud that Albania is joining the frontlines of global AI development. We want to build tools that empower people — and I’m excited Albania will be part of that journey.”
As Thinking Machines Lab emerges from stealth mode, many in the tech industry will be watching closely — not only to see what the company builds, but also how Albania’s early investment in AI might inspire similar moves by other smaller nations.
