Ilya Sutskever Takes CEO Role at Safe Superintelligence Amid Meta’s Acquisition Attempts

Ilya Sutskever, the co-founder of OpenAI, has taken on the role of CEO at Safe Superintelligence (SSI), the AI startup he co-founded in 2024. This shift follows the departure of Daniel Gross, who had been serving as SSI’s acting CEO. Gross left the company on June 29 to join Meta Platforms, where he will lead its AI products arm. Sutskever announced the change in a post on the X platform, expressing gratitude to Gross for his contributions and wishing him well in his new role. Sutskever also revealed that Daniel Levy, another co-founder of SSI, will now serve as the company’s president, with the technical team continuing to report to Sutskever.

Sutskever’s move to the CEO position underscores his commitment to SSI’s mission of developing safe superintelligent AI. He emphasized that the company will remain focused on its goals despite external interest, including rumors of potential acquisitions. Sutskever stated that SSI has the necessary compute resources, team, and expertise to continue building safe superintelligence. He also noted that the company has secured significant funding, including over $3 billion in less than a year, reaching a valuation of $32 billion. However, SSI has maintained a low profile with no public product or demos.

Meta’s interest in SSI extended beyond hiring Gross. Insiders reported that Meta explored acquiring SSI outright to integrate its advanced research into Meta Superintelligence Labs. However, Sutskever and his team rebuffed these overtures, insisting on preserving SSI’s independence. Sutskever’s public statements suggest that the company is confident in its path and committed to its mission. The intense competition for AI talent in Silicon Valley and beyond has led tech giants to offer generous compensation packages to attract top minds. Gross’s move to Meta is a testament to this trend, as his new role involves accelerating AI products ranging from recommendation engines to generative models.

Sutskever’s leadership at SSI is expected to drive the company’s focus on developing safe superintelligent AI. The startup’s mission aligns with the broader industry trend of advancing AI capabilities while ensuring safety and ethical considerations. With Sutskever at the helm, SSI is poised to continue its rapid growth and innovation in the AI field. The company’s commitment to remaining independent suggests a strong belief in its ability to achieve its goals without external interference. As the AI talent war escalates, Sutskever’s dual role as chief scientist and CEO could prove pivotal in steering safe superintelligence toward reality.