Ilya Sutskever, a Russian-Israeli-Canadian computer scientist and co-founder and chief scientist of OpenAI, spoke at Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv on June 5, 2023.
Jack Guess | AFP | Getty Images
Ilya Sutskever, the co-founder of artificial intelligence startup OpenAI who left the company last month, has announced a new AI company called Safe Superintelligence (SSI).
“I am starting a new company,” Sutskever wrote to X on Wednesday. “We will pursue secure superintelligence head-on, with one focus, one goal and one product.”
Sutskever was OpenAI’s chief scientist and led the company’s superalignment team alongside Jan Reicke, who also left the company in May for rival AI company Anthropic.
OpenAI’s Superalignment team, which focused on operating and controlling AI systems, was disbanded shortly after Sutskever and Leike announced their departures.
Sutskever plans to continue to focus on safety in his new startup.
“SSI is our mission, our name, and our entire product roadmap, because it’s our sole focus,” the SSI account posted on X. “Our sole focus means we’re not distracted by administrative costs or product cycles, and our business model means safety, security, and progress are all insulated from short-term commercial pressures.”
Sutskever is founding the company with Daniel Gross, who oversaw Apple’s AI and search efforts, and Daniel Levy, formerly of OpenAI. The company has offices in Palo Alto, Calif., and Tel Aviv.
Sutskever was one of the OpenAI board members who tried to oust Sam Altman in November after Altman and Sutskever, along with other board members, clashed over the guardrails OpenAI had put in place for its pursuit of advanced AI.
Following Altman’s sudden firing and before being quickly reinstated, Sutskever publicly apologized for her role in the incident.
“I deeply regret my participation in the board’s actions,” Sutskever wrote in a post on X on Nov. 20. “I never intended to cause harm to OpenAI. I love everything we’ve built together and will do everything in my power to bring the company back together.”
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