Safe Superintelligence (SSI), the secretive AI venture co-founded by former OpenAI chief scientist Ilya Sutskever, has reportedly raised a massive $2 billion in funding, bringing the company’s valuation to a staggering $32 billion, according to the Financial Times.
This new round, said to be led by Greenoaks, follows an initial $1 billion already raised by the company — and rumors of a second billion-dollar round that now appears to have materialized. SSI itself has not publicly confirmed the funding.
From OpenAI to Safe AI
Sutskever left OpenAI in May 2024 following a high-profile internal conflict, in which he was allegedly involved in the failed attempt to oust CEO Sam Altman. Shortly after his departure, Sutskever teamed up with Daniel Gross and Daniel Levy to launch Safe Superintelligence with a single mission:
“One goal and one product: a safe superintelligence.”
Despite its massive valuation, SSI remains largely in stealth. Its website offers little beyond a mission statement and no visible product — yet investors appear to be betting big on Sutskever’s track record and vision for building safe, next-gen AI systems.
Why It Matters
The $32 billion valuation places SSI among the most valuable AI startups globally, even in the absence of a commercial product. It also underscores the growing urgency and competition in the race to develop — and control — superintelligent AI.
While OpenAI, Anthropic, xAI, and others focus on scaling their models and expanding API access, SSI is positioning itself around a singular promise: creating superintelligence with safety baked in from the start.
Whether that vision turns into a product — and whether it lives up to its massive valuation — remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the AI arms race isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
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