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SSI Raises One Billion Dollar Seed

Sep 9, 2024

Ilya Suskova, founder of Safe Super Intelligence (SSI), discusses his groundbreaking $1 billion seed funding and the mission to develop safe AI models. With a lean team of 10, he shares insights on allocating resources and the significant timeline of two years to product readiness. The conversation dives into the competitive landscape, especially against Anthropic, and the broader implications for AI's future. Expect humor and a look at the thrilling ride of high-stakes funding and the challenges of building a safety-focused AI foundation.

13:41

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Ilya Suskova

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Quick takeaways

Ilya Suskova's startup SSI raised a groundbreaking $1 billion seed round to focus on developing a safe foundation model for AI.

The competitive challenge SSI faces from established players like Anthropic raises questions about its ability to distinguish its safety-focused product in the market.

Deep dives

Astronomical Seed Funding

Ilya Suskiver has raised an unprecedented one billion dollars for his startup, Safe Super Intelligence (SSI), during its seed funding round. This amount significantly exceeds typical seed round figures, emphasizing the confidence investors have in Suskiver, a prominent figure from OpenAI. The funding marks a substantial financial backing from major venture capital firms, which indicates a strong belief in the startup's potential. By raising such a large sum at the outset, this startup positions itself among the most well-funded AI companies instantly, signaling a bold move in the competitive landscape of artificial intelligence.

Intro

3min

One Billion Dollar Seed Funding and Its Implications

2min

Navigating the Future of AI: Competition and Sustainability

5min

The Rise and Fall of Inflection: A Deep Dive into AI Ventures

4min

Ilya Suskova has raised a seed round of $1 billion for his startup SSI. The startup, called Safe Super Intelligence (SSI), aims to develop a safe and secure foundation model for AI. The funding round was led by prominent investors, including Andreessen Horowitz and Sequoia Capital. The team at SSI consists of 10 people, and they plan to allocate a significant portion of the funding towards compute. However, it may take up to two years before they have a product ready for the market. The future of AI and the competition with Anthropic, another AI company focused on safety, are key questions raised by this development.