- Safe Superintelligence (SSI), co-founded by former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, has raised over $1 billion in funding from investors including NFDG, a16z, Sequoia, DST Global, and SV Angel.
- SSI plans to use the funding to acquire computing power and hire researchers and engineers, focusing on AI safety research, though the specific research direction is yet to be revealed.
- The funding values SSI at $5 billion, highlighting the significant investment in the company’s mission to ensure the safe development of advanced AI.
Safe Superintelligence (SSI), the AI startup co-founded by former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, has just secured a staggering $1 billion in funding, putting it at the forefront of the AI safety race. The funding round, led by an investment partnership helmed by Nat Friedman and SSI CEO Daniel Gross, saw participation from leading venture capital firms like a16z, Sequoia, DST Global, and SV Angel.
While SSI remains tight-lipped about its specific research direction, the company plans to leverage the substantial funding to acquire computing power and attract top-tier researchers and engineers across its offices in Palo Alto and Tel Aviv.
The investment values SSI at a remarkable $5 billion, signifying the confidence investors have in the company’s mission to ensure the safe and responsible development of advanced AI.
Sutskever’s departure from OpenAI, after heading the Superalignment team focused on general AI safety research, adds a compelling layer to this story. Following a high-profile disagreement with former OpenAI board members and CEO Sam Altman, Sutskever left the company, citing communication breakdowns. His new venture, SSI, now emerges as a formidable force in AI safety, poised to tackle the challenges of safeguarding the future of artificial intelligence.
This massive investment highlights the growing recognition of AI safety as a critical concern and underscores the confidence investors have in SSI’s ability to make a significant impact in this field. As SSI embarks on its research journey, the world will be watching closely to see how this startup tackles the complex challenges of building safe and beneficial superintelligence.
What you should know
Safe Superintelligence (SSI) is an AI startup founded by Ilya Sutskever, a prominent figure in the field of artificial intelligence. Sutskever, previously the Chief Scientist at OpenAI, left the company amidst controversy surrounding the direction of AI development.
SSI is on a mission to ensure the safe and responsible development of advanced artificial intelligence. The company is focused on tackling the profound challenges of aligning AI systems with human values and ensuring that superintelligence, if it emerges, benefits humanity.
While SSI is still in its early stages, it has already attracted significant attention and investment. The company has secured over $1 billion in funding from prominent venture capital firms, reflecting the growing recognition of AI safety as a critical concern.
SSI’s research will likely focus on developing frameworks and techniques to ensure that superintelligent AI systems are aligned with human goals and values. Their work is expected to have a profound impact on the future of artificial intelligence, shaping the trajectory of this rapidly evolving field.
With its ambitious goals and experienced leadership, Safe Superintelligence is poised to play a key role in shaping the future of AI, ensuring that this powerful technology benefits all of humanity.
