“It’s time for the state to get involved in companies to finance and benefit,” said Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on April 15. “As I spoke with Mira Murati, I asked if we could also get involved. She said, absolutely.”
Albania will co-finance the new artificial intelligence platform being developed by Mira Murati former Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI called “Thinking Machines Lab”, with a $10 million investment. The Ministry of Economy, Culture, and Innovation has submitted a funding request to the Ministry of Finance.
“This startup is one of the most innovative global projects in the field of artificial intelligence, with significant potential for technological advancement and economic gain for the country. Beyond direct economic impact, this partnership will elevate Albania’s position in the global tech community, showcasing the nation’s commitment to supporting innovation and advanced research,” the Ministry of Finance stated in a note to the Central Election Commission (CEC).
With the May 11 elections approaching, the Ministry of Finance has asked the CEC whether this budget amendment could conflict with the electoral code.
“The 2024 budget revision, proposed through a normative act, foresees a 1 billion lekë increase in both revenues and expenditures. This change does not affect the budget deficit level, which remains unchanged both nominally and as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product compared to the initially approved 2025 budget.”
To persuade the CEC, the Ministry of Finance argues that Albania’s investment in Thinking Machines Lab would be highly beneficial for the national economy. The lab claims its goal is to build AI systems that are more interpretable, customizable, and capable than existing models like ChatGPT.
“It is important to emphasize that all technical aspects related to this investment, including its projected profitability and funding requirements, have been assessed and confirmed by the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, by its responsibilities as the authority overseeing technology and innovation policies.”
Mira Murati’s AI startup is aiming to close one of the largest early-stage funding rounds ever, targeting $2 billion. According to Business Insider, if successful, the company would be valued at at least $10 billion despite not yet having a product or generating revenue.
