Former Chief Scientist Of OpenAI Launches New AI Company

Recently, we reported that two artificial intelligence (AI) safety executives from OpenAI quit the company. Both were co-leads of OpenAI’s Superalignment project, which aimed to create scientific and technical breakthroughs to steer and control AI systems that could outshine human intelligence. 

The plan was for Jan Leike and Ilya Sutskever and a team assembled by them to leverage 20% of the compute that OpenAI had secured to date in a bid to solve problems in the generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) machine within four years.

However, the project effectively shut in less than a year, after both co-leads announced their retirement through separate posts on X.

Soon after his last day, Jan Leike announced he had joined OpenAI rival Anthropic, where he would continue his superalignment mission. Leike even called for others to join him on his mission.

On the other hand, Ilya Sutskever didn’t share details about his future plans other than saying “I am excited for what comes next — a project that is very personally meaningful to me about which I will share details in due time.”

Now, “due time” is here and Ilya Sutskever revealed his next move.

So, what did Sutskever say and what’s his next move? Let’s explore!
 

What Did Ilya Sutskever Announce?

 

• Ilya Sutskever’s next move comes through a post on X which simply read, “I am starting a new company,” which tagged the first post published by his new company on X.

• The company is called Safe Superintelligence Inc. (or SSI for short) and it comes with one goal and one product - a safe superintelligence.

• “We will pursue safe superintelligence in a straight shot, with one focus, one goal, and one product. We will do it through revolutionary breakthroughs produced by a small cracked team,” elaborated Sutskever through another post.

• Sutskever is joined by former Y Combinator partner Daniel Gross and ex-OpenAI engineer Daniel Levy in this venture.

• Sutskever builds on his previous stance of the importance of AI safety with the new company.

• In contrast to OpenAI which began as a non-profit organization and switched to a for-profit entity soon after realizing the large costs involved in building industry-leading AI products, SSI clarifies its position as a for-profit business.

• While Sutskever remained reserved in the new venture’s funding and valuation situation, partner Daniel Gross said, “Out of all the problems we face, raising capital is not going to be one of them.”

• Describing itself as an American company with offices in Palo Alto, USA and Tel Aviv, Israel, SSI is on the lookout for technical staff and possesses a page dedicated to it, the only one other than its homepage on its website.

 

What Does SSI’s Website Say?

 

• Through a note penned by Ilya Sutskever, Daniel Gross and Daniel Levy on the home page of its website, SSI listed its mission, key information and contact information (link to another page).

• “Building safe superintelligence (SSI) is the most important technical problem of our time. We have started the world’s first straight-shot SSI lab, with one goal and one product: a safe superintelligence.”

• “It’s called Safe Superintelligence Inc.”

• “SSI is our mission, our name, and our entire product roadmap, because it is our sole focus. Our team, investors, and business model are all aligned to achieve SSI.”

• “We approach safety and capabilities in tandem, as technical problems to be solved through revolutionary engineering and scientific breakthroughs. We plan to advance capabilities as fast as possible while making sure our safety always remains ahead. This way, we can scale in peace.”

• “Our singular focus means no distraction by management overhead or product cycles, and our business model means safety, security, and progress are all insulated from short-term commercial pressures.”

• “We are an American company with offices in Palo Alto and Tel Aviv, where we have deep roots and the ability to recruit top technical talent.”

• “We are assembling a lean, cracked team of the world’s best engineers and researchers dedicated to focusing on SSI and nothing else. If that’s you, we offer an opportunity to do your life’s work and help solve the most important technical challenge of our age. Now is the time. Join us.”

Given Ilya Sutskever’s and Daniel Levy’s past at OpenAI and Daniel Gross’ experience, as well as being dubbed generative AI pioneers, do you think this new venture could challenge OpenAI and other AI companies in the future?

Let us know in the comments below!