Sutskever’s new AI company will focus on security and safety | Credit: Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images

OpenAI co-founder and former chief scientist, Ilya Sutskever, said on Wednesday (19 June) that he is founding a new AI company. 

The newly formed company will aim to create a safe AI environment. Safe Superintelligence, which has offices in Tel Aviv and Palo Alto, will also be co-led by former OpenAI researcher Daniel Levy and co-founder and former AI lead of Cue, Daniel Gross.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

“Our singular focus means no distraction by management overhead or product cycles, and our business model means safety, security, and progress are all insulated from short-term commercial pressures,” Sutskever wrote on X.

Sutskever left OpenAI after playing a central role in the controversial firing and rehiring of CEO Sam Altman in November 2023. 

The co-founder and chief scientist was on the board of directors which reportedly helped orchestrate the firing of Altman. However, days later Sutskever backtracked on his decision and signed a letter calling for Altman’s rehiring. 

Upon Altman’s return, Sutskever was removed from the board of directors and his position in the company remained unclear. According to reports, Sutskever had not been seen during the company’s daily operations for the past several months.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

Following the announcement of Sutskever’s departure, Altman shared that the news was “very sad” and hailed the co-founder as “one of the greatest minds of our generation”.

“This is very sad to me; Ilya is easily one of the greatest minds of our generation, a guiding light of our field, and a dear friend,” Altman wrote on X. 

“His brilliance and vision are well known; his warmth and compassion are less well known but no less important,” Altman added. 

GlobalData forecasts that the overall AI market will be worth $909bn by 2030, having grown at a compound annual rate of 35% between 2022 and 2030.

In the GenAI space, revenues are expected to grow from $1.8bn in 2022, to $33bn in 2027, a CAGR of 80%.