Sutskever, OpenAI Co-Founder, Eyes $30 Billion Valuation

Ilya Sutskever, a key figure behind OpenAI’s success, is back in the AI game with a new startup, Safe Superintelligence (SSI). The company is focused on developing "safe superintelligence"—AI that surpasses human intelligence without compromising safety. With a potential valuation of over $30 billion, SSI is poised to become one of the most valuable private AI firms.

Big Bets, Bigger Funding. SSI is on track to raise more than $1 billion in its latest funding round, led by San Francisco-based venture firm, Greenoaks Capital Partners. This investment could push SSI’s total funding to nearly $2 billion, making it one of the biggest players in the private AI market. The firm previously raised $1 billion from big investors like Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, even though it has yet to generate revenue or launch any products.

Safety First, Innovation Always. What sets SSI apart is its commitment to advancing AI capabilities without sacrificing safety. According to its founders, including former Apple AI leader Daniel Gross and ex-OpenAI researcher Daniel Levy, the focus is on building AI systems that can safely scale and evolve. The company’s stated mission is to "advance capabilities as fast as possible while ensuring safety always leads," a philosophy that guides every aspect of their engineering approach.

Powered by AI Visionaries. Sutskever’s deep expertise in AI and his past at OpenAI—where he contributed significantly to breakthroughs like ChatGPT—make SSI’s mission compelling. After leaving OpenAI in 2023, Sutskever co-founded SSI, hoping to tackle the challenges he saw in AI safety. His departure from OpenAI followed internal conflicts, including concerns about safety priorities, which led some researchers, like Jan Leike, to leave the company.

While SSI has yet to release a product, its bold vision for the future of AI has captured attention across the industry. With top-tier investors backing its mission and a growing focus on safe AI development, Safe Superintelligence is one to watch closely in the coming years. The company's focus on safety first, while pushing the envelope on AI capabilities, positions it as a key player in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.