Ilya Sutskever launches SSI for safe superintelligence, raises $3 billion.

In a significant development for the artificial intelligence industry, Ilya Sutskever, a co-founder and former chief scientist of OpenAI, has launched a new venture named Safe Superintelligence Inc. (SSI).[1][2][3] This move comes approximately one month after his departure from OpenAI and is marked by the recent exit of co-founder Daniel Gross, who is reportedly joining Meta Platforms.[4][5][6] The leadership change and the company's ambitious mission underscore a growing schism within the AI community regarding the balance between rapid commercialization and the paramount importance of safety in the development of advanced AI.

Sutskever, a highly respected researcher who was instrumental in the creation of groundbreaking technologies like ChatGPT, has positioned SSI with a singular and unwavering objective: to develop a safe superintelligence.[7][8][3] The company's mission, name, and entire product roadmap are consolidated into this one goal.[9][2] This "straight-shot" approach, as the company calls it, is designed to insulate its research from the short-term commercial pressures and product cycles that characterize much of the current AI landscape.[9][5][2] By prioritizing safety and capabilities in tandem as interconnected technical challenges, SSI aims to advance AI's potential as swiftly as possible while ensuring safety protocols remain ahead of the curve.[9][10][11] The company's focus is on existential safety, akin to nuclear safety, rather than the content moderation issues typically associated with "trust and safety" teams at other tech firms.[12]

The genesis of SSI follows a period of notable turmoil at OpenAI. Sutskever was a key figure in the November 2023 ousting of CEO Sam Altman, a decision he later expressed regret over.[8][4][13] This boardroom drama was widely seen as a manifestation of deeper ideological divides within OpenAI concerning the speed of AI development and the emphasis on safety versus commercial opportunities.[14][8] Sutskever's departure from OpenAI in May 2024, along with that of Jan Leike, who co-led the "Superalignment" team with him, signaled a clear break from OpenAI's trajectory.[4][15] The Superalignment team, which was tasked with ensuring superintelligent AI aligns with human values, was dissolved shortly after their exits.[5][15] Sutskever announced his new venture in June 2024, co-founding it with Daniel Gross, former AI lead at Apple, and Daniel Levy, another former OpenAI researcher.[1][5][2] The company established dual headquarters in Palo Alto, California, and Tel Aviv, Israel, to tap into top-tier technical talent in both regions.[1][14][16]

Despite its recent formation and lack of a commercial product, SSI has attracted substantial investor confidence, largely on the strength of Sutskever's reputation and the founding team's vision.[7][10] In September 2024, the company announced it had raised $1 billion from a consortium of prominent venture capital firms, including Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, DST Global, and SV Angel.[14][9][8] By March 2025, a further funding round reportedly raised $2 billion, catapulting the company's valuation from $5 billion to an estimated $30 billion, with some reports suggesting a valuation as high as $32 billion.[14][16][10][17][18] This significant capital infusion is earmarked for scaling research and development, acquiring massive computing power, and recruiting elite engineers and researchers.[14][16] Notably, SSI has secured a partnership with Google Cloud for access to its advanced Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), indicating a strategic move to leverage cutting-edge hardware.[14][16] The company has also reportedly rebuffed an acquisition attempt by Meta, signaling a commitment to its independent mission.[14][6]

The recent departure of co-founder Daniel Gross, who is reportedly being hired by Meta along with his venture capital partner Nat Friedman, introduces a new dynamic to the competitive landscape.[19][6][20] Sources indicated that Meta had first attempted to acquire SSI outright before successfully recruiting Gross.[6][21] This move is part of an aggressive talent acquisition strategy by major tech firms vying for dominance in the race toward artificial general intelligence.[6] For SSI, the change highlights the intense competition for top AI talent and the immense pressure on startups in this space. However, Sutskever's continued leadership and the company's foundational mission remain the core of its identity. SSI's journey will be closely watched as a critical test of whether a research-focused, safety-first approach can succeed in an industry increasingly driven by rapid product deployment and commercial gains. The firm's ability to navigate the immense scientific and technical challenges while remaining insulated from market pressures will be a key determinant of its long-term impact on the future of artificial intelligence.[22]