OpenAI Co-Founder Raises $1B for Safe Superintelligence Startup

OpenAI’s co-founder, Ilya Sutskever, has recently secured $1 billion in funding for his new AI company, Safe Superintelligence (SSI). The investors include big names like Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, DST Global, and SV Angel. SSI aims to focus on safe superintelligence with a singular goal and product. This move comes after Sutskever left OpenAI in May, along with Jan Leike, who joined rival AI firm Anthropic.

The decision to leave OpenAI stemmed from concerns about the company’s prioritization of products over safety processes. Sutskever, along with Daniel Gross and Daniel Levy, started SSI with a mission to prioritize safety, security, and progress without being swayed by short-term commercial pressures. The company has offices in Palo Alto, California, and Tel Aviv, Israel.

In the past, Sutskever was involved in a leadership transition at OpenAI that led to the temporary ouster of co-founder and CEO Sam Altman. This incident highlighted a difference in priorities within the company, with Sutskever focusing on ensuring AI does not harm humans, while others were more inclined towards technological advancements.

Despite the turmoil at OpenAI, Sutskever publicly apologized for his role in the events and expressed his commitment to reuniting the company. With SSI, he aims to maintain a singular focus on safe superintelligence without distractions from management overhead or product cycles.

The future of AI is constantly evolving, and companies like SSI are at the forefront of shaping this landscape. With a strong emphasis on safety and progress, Sutskever and his team are poised to make significant advancements in the field of artificial intelligence.