Ilya Sutskever, former OpenAI chief scientist, launches Safe Superintelligence focusing on safe artificial superintelligence

From Meredith Corporation: 2024-06-21 01:23:11

Ilya Sutskever, the former OpenAI chief scientist who was involved in a failed coup against the CEO, has launched a new AI company called Safe Superintelligence. This company will focus on developing safeguards for artificial superintelligence (ASI), considered the most crucial technological problem of our time. Sutskever aims to create ASI that is safe and beneficial for humanity.

Sutskever’s departure from OpenAI was followed by governance issues, including accusations of breaking promises to AI safety teams and imposing watertight gag orders on former employees. The company also faced a lawsuit from actress Scarlett Johansson for allegedly using her voice without permission. These incidents raised concerns that OpenAI had shifted focus from safety to commercial success.

Ilya Sutskever is a prominent figure in the AI field since collaborating on the development of Alex Krizhevsky’s AlexNet in 2012. He co-founded OpenAI in 2015 as a nonprofit with a goal of creating value for everyone. However, the organization has since transitioned into a commercial entity due to the need to fund its operations. OpenAI’s governance structure became more complex, leading to debates about its direction.

Sutskever’s new venture, Safe Superintelligence, will be based in Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv, with a clear focus on developing ASI with robust safeguards. The company aims to balance safety and profitability while insulating itself from short-term commercial pressures. Details about the business model and the potential for a for-profit structure were not disclosed in the announcement.



Read more at Meredith Corporation: OpenAI’s Ilya Sutskever launching own startup for safe AI