Gross Joins Meta, Predicts ‘Miracles’ for Safe Superintelligence
▼ Summary
– Daniel Gross, co-founder of Safe Superintelligence (SSI), has left the AI startup, confirmed by co-founder Ilya Sutskever in a message to employees and investors.
– Gross expressed gratitude in his farewell, praising SSI’s team and future potential, while Sutskever dismissed acquisition rumors and emphasized SSI’s independence.
– Gross and Nat Friedman, his collaborator at venture fund NFDG, have joined Meta, which also acquired a stake in NFDG after failing to buy SSI outright.
– Gross, a former Apple AI leader and serial entrepreneur, has a strong track record in AI and venture capital, making him a key hire for Meta’s AI ambitions.
– Meta is aggressively expanding its AI efforts, including hiring top talent like Alexandr Wang and investing heavily to lead in superintelligent AI, as highlighted by Mark Zuckerberg’s memo.
Daniel Gross, co-founder of the high-profile AI startup Safe Superintelligence (SSI), has stepped down from his role just one year after helping establish the company. His departure was confirmed by fellow co-founder Ilya Sutskever in a message to employees and investors, signaling a significant change within one of Silicon Valley’s most closely monitored AI ventures.
In a public farewell, Gross expressed confidence in SSI’s trajectory, stating, “Ilya and Daniel have built an exceptional team, and I’m proud to have contributed to SSI’s early success. The company’s potential is enormous, and I anticipate groundbreaking achievements ahead.”
Sutskever acknowledged Gross’s contributions in a separate statement, thanking him for his role in launching the $32 billion startup while dismissing speculation about a potential acquisition. The message reinforced SSI’s commitment to remaining independent under Sutskever’s leadership.
Meanwhile, Gross’s next move aligns with Meta’s aggressive strategy to dominate artificial general intelligence (AGI) development. After failing to acquire SSI outright, Meta has brought Gross and his longtime collaborator Nat Friedman on board. The duo, known for their influential early-stage venture fund NFDG, will play key roles in Meta’s AI expansion. Reports indicate the deal also includes Meta taking a stake in NFDG.
Gross, an Israeli entrepreneur with a track record of success, previously sold his startup Cue to Apple in 2013 and later led AI initiatives at the tech giant. Alongside Friedman, the former GitHub CEO, he has been instrumental in funding and shaping numerous AI startups, making them valuable assets for Meta’s ambitions.
The hiring coincides with Meta’s broader AI restructuring. Alexandr Wang, founder of Scale AI, a data-labeling firm in which Meta recently acquired a $14.3 billion stake, has been appointed chief AI officer. Gross and Friedman are expected to collaborate closely with Wang as Meta intensifies its efforts in superintelligence research and commercialization.
For Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the push into AGI represents a critical priority. In an internal memo, he framed superintelligent AI as the dawn of “a new chapter for humanity” and vowed unlimited investment to secure Meta’s leadership in the field. The company has aggressively recruited top AI talent from rivals like OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic in recent months, underscoring its determination to stay ahead in the race.
(Source: Calcalis Tech)
