Sutskever's departure from OpenAI was marked by internal turmoil, including the controversial ousting of CEO Sam Altman, which influenced his decision to start SSI.

Other former OpenAI employees, such as Mira Murati, are also launching their own AI startups, contributing to a burgeoning wave of innovation in the sector.

Ilya Sutskever, co-founder of OpenAI, is raising over $1 billion for his startup, Safe Superintelligence (SSI), which is currently valued at over $30 billion despite having no commercial product or revenue.

SSI's valuation has surged six-fold from its previous valuation of $5 billion in just a few months, reflecting strong investor confidence in Sutskever's vision for safe AI.

Sutskever co-founded SSI in June 2024 with Daniel Gross and Daniel Levy, focusing exclusively on the development of safe AI systems.

In its early funding phases, SSI attracted investments from prominent firms like Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, which have been crucial to its rapid growth.

Meanwhile, SoftBank Group is reportedly negotiating to lead a funding round for OpenAI, potentially raising $40 billion and valuing the company at $300 billion.

This current valuation exceeds SSI's previous target of at least $20 billion, showcasing the robust interest from investors.

The company aims to tackle safety and capability challenges through revolutionary engineering and scientific breakthroughs, emphasizing the simultaneous pursuit of both.

The ongoing financing discussions may still change, with further details expected as negotiations progress.

The surge in SSI's valuation aligns with a broader trend of substantial investments in AI startups, driven by the success of OpenAI's ChatGPT.

If successful, this funding round will position SSI among the most valuable private tech companies worldwide.