Ilya Sutskever (Twitter)
Safe Superintelligence Inc. (SSI), a new firm co-founded by Ilya Sutskever, a pioneer in deep learning and co-founder of Sam Altman’s OpenAI, has raised $1 billion in cash.
SSI, which currently has 10 employees, told Reuters that it intends to use the funds to obtain new computing power and to hire “top talent.” The company will also build a small team of researchers and engineers who will work between Palo Alto, California and Tel Aviv, Israel.
While the company refrained from disclosing its valuation, industry sources estimate it to be around $5 billion. This recent funding round highlights the enduring investor confidence in exceptional AI talent focused on fundamental research. This optimism persists despite a broader downturn in funding for such companies, which often operate at a loss for extended periods. This trend has led some startup founders to seek employment at larger tech firms.
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Ilya Sutskever, alongside co-founders Daniel Gross and Daniel Levy, describes SSI as a “straight-shot SSI lab” with an unwavering focus – creating a safe superintelligence. This ambitious goal necessitates a singular approach. Unlike companies juggling multiple projects and revenue streams, SSI prioritizes safety above all else. Investors, business models, and even daily operations are meticulously designed to propel them towards this objective.
Their approach hinges on viewing safety and capabilities as intertwined technical hurdles. Traditional AI development often prioritizes raw power, a strategy that raises concerns about unforeseen consequences. SSI, however, proposes a balanced approach. They aim to advance AI capabilities as rapidly as possible, but with the crucial caveat that safety remains paramount. This two-pronged strategy, they believe, paves the way for peaceful and responsible scaling of AI.
The benefits of SSI’s singular focus are multifaceted. Streamlined management and an unwavering commitment to their long-term goal eliminate distractions associated with product cycles and short-term pressures. Additionally, their business model safeguards safety, security, and progress from the temptations of immediate commercial gains. This allows them to prioritize responsible advancement without compromising their core principles.
Ilya Sutskever’s credentials within the AI landscape are undeniable. Born in Russia and holding both Israeli and Canadian citizenship, Sutskever has made significant contributions to the field. His co-invention of the AlexNet convolutional neural network, a landmark achievement in deep learning, stands as a testament to his technical expertise.
Sutskever’s journey with AI research continued with his co-founding of OpenAI. OpenAI, established in 2015, aimed to develop safe artificial general intelligence (AGI) – a hypothetical AI capable of surpassing human cognitive abilities across all domains. Ilya Sutskever’s departure from OpenAI in May 2024 was a significant development within the AI community. While the exact reasons remain undisclosed, speculation centers around a potential disagreement with OpenAI’s leadership regarding the pace and focus of safety measures.
