Ilya Sutskever's Safe AI Startup SSI Secures $1 Billion

Safe Superintelligence (SSI), a new AI startup co-founded by OpenAI's former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, has raised $1 billion to develop safe artificial intelligence systems that exceed human capabilities. The funds will be used to acquire computing power and hire top talent. The company plans to build a small team of researchers and engineers based in Palo Alto, California, and Tel Aviv, Israel. Investors include venture capital firms Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, DST Global, and SV Angel.

While SSI declined to disclose its valuation, sources close to the matter indicated it is valued at $5 billion. The funding reflects a continued willingness among some investors to make significant bets on foundational AI research led by exceptional talent. SSI aims to partner with cloud providers and chip companies to support its computing power needs, although specific partnerships have not yet been finalized.