SSI: When Former OpenAI Scientists Raise Billions for Safe Superintelligence
New projects are constantly emerging in the field of artificial intelligence, but few have caused as much excitement as Safe Superintelligence Inc. (SSI). This startup, founded in June 2024, aims to develop something that could change the world – safe superintelligence that surpasses human intelligence while remaining aligned with human values and under human control. Although SSI does not yet have a product on the market, its valuation has already reached an incredible $32 billion. How did they manage it? Let’s take a closer look.
Who is behind SSI?
Three prominent figures from the technology world are behind SSI’s creation:
- Ilya Sutskever: Former chief scientist at OpenAI and one of the key creators of ChatGPT. Sutskever is considered one of the foremost experts in artificial intelligence, and his departure from OpenAI in 2024 attracted considerable attention.
- Daniel Gross: Former partner at Y Combinator, with extensive experience supporting and developing technology startups.
- Daniel Levy: Entrepreneur and investor who brings strategic leadership and business experience to the project.
Safe superintelligence
This trio is attracting attention not only because of their experience, but also because of their vision. SSI is focused on developing superintelligence that will not only be powerful, but above all safe and ethical. Their philosophy of "scaling in peace" suggests that they want to proceed cautiously and responsibly in order to prevent the risks associated with developing advanced AI. SSI’s main goal is to create an artificial intelligence system that surpasses human intelligence while remaining under human control and respecting human values. This ambitious project responds to concerns arising in connection with the rapid development of AI – for example, the risk that artificial intelligence could become uncontrollable or be misused. According to available information, SSI is working on an advanced language model that should surpass current systems such as GPT-4, but with much more robust safety mechanisms. The company also emphasizes that it places importance on ethics and transparency in developing its technologies.
Who invested in SSI, and how much?
Although SSI does not yet have a product on the market, investors have placed enormous hopes in it. In April 2025, the company raised $2 billion in an investment round led by Greenoaks Capital. Other investors include prominent firms such as Lightspeed Venture Partners and Andreessen Horowitz. This investment increased SSI’s valuation to an incredible $32 billion, which is a staggering figure, especially considering that the company was founded less than a year ago. By comparison, many established technology companies only reach such a valuation after years on the market.
How is SSI doing so far?
To be honest, the specific details remain rather vague. The company has approximately 20 employees and operates in Palo Alto, California, and Tel Aviv, Israel. Although SSI is only at the beginning of its journey, its rapid growth and ambitious goals suggest that it could play a key role in the future of artificial intelligence. The question remains, however, whether it can live up to the expectations investors have placed in it.
