Ilya Sutskever is a deep-learning researcher who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 and served as its Chief Scientist before leaving in May 2024. He later co-founded Safe Superintelligence, a company focused on developing safe superintelligence.
Research career
Sutskever contributed to influential work on large neural networks and deep learning before and during his time at OpenAI.
Role at OpenAI
He was a founding member and led part of the company’s scientific research. He later co-led the Superalignment team, which focused on controlling systems that could exceed human capabilities. He left in May 2024 and should not be described as a current OpenAI executive.
Safe Superintelligence
The new company says its single goal is to build safe superintelligence and that it intends to advance capabilities and safety together without short product-cycle pressure. This is a stated mission, not a technical result that has already been demonstrated.
Controversies and public debate
Sutskever was a member of the OpenAI board that voted to remove Sam Altman in November 2023. He later said he regretted participating in the board’s action and supported Altman’s return. The full internal record has not been made public, so undocumented motives should not be asserted and responsibility should not be assigned to him alone for a board decision.