Ilya Sutskever Steps Up as CEO of Safe Superintelligence Amid Leadership Change
OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever has officially taken on the chief executive officer position at Safe Superintelligence, the artificial intelligence startup he founded in 2024. This leadership transition follows the exit of Daniel Gross, co-founder and former CEO, who left the company as of June 29. Daniel Levy, another co-founder, has been appointed president, according to Sutskever.
Safe Superintelligence’s Strategic Direction Under New Leadership
Reports surfaced recently that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg was engaged in advanced discussions to recruit Daniel Gross and his longtime partner, former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman. Zuckerberg also reportedly attempted to acquire Safe Superintelligence, a firm valued at approximately $32 billion. Addressing these rumors, Sutskever stated, “You might have heard rumors of companies looking to acquire us. We are flattered by their attention but are focused on seeing our work through. We have the compute, we have the team, and we know what to do. Together we will keep building safe superintelligence.”
Implications of Daniel Gross’s Departure for Safe Superintelligence’s Future
Gross’s departure raises questions about the startup’s trajectory. Safe Superintelligence positions itself as the world’s “first straight-shot SSI lab,” focusing exclusively on developing safe superintelligence technology. The company has no other products or diversification plans beyond this core mission. Sutskever established Safe Superintelligence shortly after departing OpenAI, where he was involved in the brief removal of CEO Sam Altman.
Comparing Meta’s AI Initiatives to Safe Superintelligence’s Mission
Meanwhile, Meta has launched Meta Superintelligence Labs to develop AI technologies integrated across its diverse product offerings. In a memo announcing the new division, Zuckerberg highlighted Meta’s expertise in scaling products for billions and noted early successes in AI-powered wearables. Should Gross join Meta, his previous experience leading AI teams at Apple — following the acquisition of his startup — aligns with Meta’s strategic AI focus. Additionally, Zuckerberg has recruited prominent researchers from OpenAI and Google DeepMind to bolster Meta’s AI capabilities.
Challenges Ahead for Ilya Sutskever as CEO of Safe Superintelligence
Assuming the CEO role presents new challenges for Sutskever, who previously served as OpenAI’s chief scientist. Beyond overseeing the technical team, he now faces responsibilities such as securing investor funding and attracting top-tier talent. His leadership will be pivotal as Safe Superintelligence advances its mission to develop groundbreaking safe superintelligence technology.