The American artificial intelligence company SafeSuperintelligence (Safe Super Intelligence, hereinafter referred to as "SSI") is expected to raise more than US$1 billion in the latest round of financing, with a valuation of more than US$30 billion. Well-known venture capital firm Greenoaks Capital Partners is leading the deal and plans to invest $500 million, people familiar with the matter said. Greenoaks is also an investor in fellow SSI, artificial intelligence companies ScaleAI and Databricks Inc.
People familiar with the matter noted that negotiations are ongoing and details could still change. If the financing is completed at the latest scale, SSI will rank among the world's most valuable private technology companies. It is worth mentioning that the company was established only 8 months ago.
Two weeks ago there was news that SSI could be valued at at least $20 billion. When financing last September, SSI raised US$1 billion from five investment institutions including Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz at a valuation of US$5 billion.
The founders of SSI are Ilya Sutskever, the former co-founder and chief scientist of OpenAI, Daniel Gross, the former head of AI at Apple, and Daniel Levy, a former researcher at OpenAI.
Last May, Sutskvi left OpenAI. The following month, the three co-founded SSI, which aims to develop artificial intelligence technology that is smarter than humans but not dangerous. Due to the "halo" of the three founders, SSI has attracted attention in the industry since its establishment.
At the beginning of its establishment, Sutskvi told the media, "What is special about this company is that its first product will be 'Safe Superintelligence' (the company name is SafeSuperintelligence), and the company will not do anything else before that."
Suzkovi stressed that the company will be completely immune to external pressure, will not have to deal with a large and complex product, and will not be trapped in fierce competition. Currently, SSI has not generated revenue and does not plan to sell AI products in the near future.
AI safety has always been Sutskvi’s biggest concern. In November 2023, he joined OpenAI's board members in ousting CEO Sam Altman.
At the time, some media analysts said that Suzkowe’s move was because he was worried that Altman was too focused on OpenAI’s business development and did not pay enough attention to the dangers of artificial intelligence.