Meta snags Superintelligence Inc. CEO Daniel Gross
Ilya Sutskever has officially taken over as CEO of Safe Superintelligence Inc. (SSI), the AI startup he co-founded in 2023, following the departure of Daniel Gross.
Created on July 4|Last edited on July 4
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Ilya Sutskever has officially taken over as CEO of Safe Superintelligence Inc. (SSI), the AI startup he co-founded in 2023, following the departure of Daniel Gross. Gross, a prominent figure in the AI world, left to join Meta Platforms, where he will lead its AI products division. The move highlights the intensifying competition among major tech players to acquire top-tier AI talent, a trend that’s driving executive reshuffling and billion-dollar investments.
Meta’s Recruitment Push and AI Division Restructure
Meta has been aggressively courting AI leadership and attempting to consolidate its fragmented AI strategy. Gross’s hiring is part of a larger overhaul that includes the formation of Meta Superintelligence Labs, a new division launched by CEO Mark Zuckerberg to centralize Meta’s AI efforts after uneven progress with the Llama 4 model. The lab is now under the leadership of Alexandr Wang, previously CEO of Scale AI, and Nat Friedman, former GitHub chief. Meta’s pivot suggests a sharper strategic focus on AGI (artificial general intelligence), positioning the company to directly compete with OpenAI, Anthropic, and now SSI.
SSI’s Mission and Sutskever’s Vision
Sutskever has reiterated his commitment to keeping SSI independent amid acquisition interest. In a recent post, he acknowledged rumors of buyout offers but emphasized the company’s focus on building safe, superintelligent AI systems. SSI raised $1 billion in 2023 and is valued at $32 billion, a striking figure for a firm that has largely remained under the radar. Sutskever’s exit from OpenAI last year, following internal turmoil around Sam Altman’s brief ouster, left questions about his next move. Now back at the helm, he’s positioned to steer SSI through what could be a defining moment for the field.
Meta’s Broader AI Ambitions and Financial Moves
Meta’s recent maneuvers also include a $14.3 billion investment into Scale AI and an effort to buy a minority stake in NFDG, the venture capital firm co-founded by Gross and Friedman. By attempting to acquire pieces of NFDG’s funds through a tender offer, Meta is not just recruiting executives but strategically embedding itself deeper into the AI startup ecosystem. These moves signal a dual-pronged approach: build internally and influence externally through financial reach.
Gross’s Track Record and Strategic Alliances
Daniel Gross’s career reflects a deep intersection between AI innovation and high-stakes M&A. After selling his predictive search startup Cue to Apple in 2013, Gross became a director at the tech giant, focusing on machine learning. His later ventures, including co-founding NFDG, connected him with many of the most influential AI startups, including SSI, Perplexity, and Figma. His close ties with Friedman and other rising tech leaders give Meta more than just a new executive; they now have access to an entire network of elite AI minds.
The leadership shift at SSI, Meta’s consolidation of AI strategy, and the billion-dollar valuations swirling around the industry suggest one thing: the race to superintelligence is no longer a future concern. It’s happening now, and control over the next generation of AI will likely hinge not just on models and data, but on who can attract and retain the minds behind them.
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