Breaking: OpenAI Co-Founder Sutskever’s New AI Safety Startup SSI Raises $1 Billion
Safe Superintelligence (SSI), a new startup co-founded by former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, has secured $1 billion in funding to develop AI systems that aim to surpass human capabilities safely.
The Palo Alto, California-based company, also operating out of Tel Aviv, Israel, plans to use the funds to acquire computing power and recruit top talent, according to company executives. The investment comes from prominent venture capital firms, including Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, DST Global, and SV Angel.
Others include contributions from NFDG, an investment partnership led by Nat Friedman and SSI’s CEO Daniel Gross. Despite the general decline in enthusiasm for funding AI companies due to prolonged unprofitability and founder exits, SSI’s success signals investor confidence in Sutskever’s vision for safe AI.
Focus on Safety and Talent Acquisition
SSI’s approach centers on building a highly trusted, small team of researchers and engineers. “It’s important for us to be surrounded by investors who understand, respect, and support our mission,” said CEO Daniel Gross. “We aim for a straight shot to safe superintelligence, with a couple of years dedicated to R&D before going to market.”
AI safety, which involves preventing AI from acting against human interests, has gained prominence amid concerns that unchecked AI could pose existential threats. This issue is increasingly dividing the industry, as seen in California’s proposed safety regulations, which have drawn support from companies like Anthropic and opposition from major players like OpenAI and Google.
A New Path for Sutskever
Sutskever, 37, is one of the most influential figures in AI today. He co-founded SSI in June with Gross, who previously led AI initiatives at Apple, and Daniel Levy, a former OpenAI researcher. Sutskever serves as SSI’s chief scientist, Levy as principal scientist, while Gross handles computing power and fundraising.
Reflecting on his transition from OpenAI, Sutskever stated, “I identified a mountain that’s a bit different from what I was working on.” His exit from OpenAI followed a controversial period where he initially voted to oust OpenAI CEO Sam Altman but later reversed his decision.
Sutskever left OpenAI in May after his role was diminished, and his “Superalignment” team, which worked on ensuring AI aligns with human values, was dismantled. Unlike OpenAI’s corporate structure, which is designed with AI safety in mind, SSI operates as a regular for-profit entity.
The company emphasizes hiring individuals who align with its culture and mission, prioritizing character and capabilities over traditional credentials. “We look for people interested in the work, not the scene or the hype,” Gross explained.
Scaling with a New Perspective
Sutskever, an early proponent of the scaling hypothesis — the idea that AI models improve with increased computing power — plans to take a different approach at SSI. “Everyone just says scaling hypothesis. Everyone neglects to ask, what are we scaling?” he noted, suggesting a more nuanced strategy than his previous efforts at OpenAI.
SSI is in the process of establishing partnerships with cloud providers and chip companies to meet its computing needs, though it has yet to finalize these collaborations. The startup’s focus on innovative approaches to scaling, combined with its commitment to AI safety, positions it as a significant player in the ongoing quest to develop safe superintelligence.
The $1 billion investment reflects a strong vote of confidence in SSI’s mission to redefine the landscape of AI safety. As the company progresses, all eyes will be on Sutskever and his team as they strive to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence while keeping safety at the forefront.
Originally posted on OpenDataScience.com
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