The Chief Technology Officer of  OpenAI’s, ChatGPT, Mira Murati is stepping down from her role, joining a wave of high-level exits this year.

In a message on X (formerly Twitter), Murati shared her plans, stating her desire to “create the time and space to do own exploration.”

“I want to start by thanking Sam and Greg for their trust in me to lead the technical organization and for their support throughout the years,” Murati wrote in a note.

“For now, my primary focus is doing everything in my power to ensure a smooth transition, maintaining the momentum we’ve built,” she added. “I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to build and work alongside this remarkable team.”

CEO Sam Altman responded with warm sentiments to Murati’s exit, posting on X: “I am deeply thankful for her contributions to our achievements and for her unwavering support and affection during challenging times. I am looking forward to seeing what she does next.”

Before her announcement, it seemed that Murati’s departure was not imminent. She was a prominent figure at OpenAI, promoting its projects even in her last few weeks, especially in explaining its technical achievements. She conducted showcases of its latest offerings at events for software developers and participated in discussions about the company’s projects.