Ex-OpenAI genius launches new “Super Intelligence” company

Summary

The video script narrates the fall and resurgence of AI researcher Ilia Skver, who co-founded OpenAI and was involved in the creation of AlexNet. After a period of disgrace, he re-emerges with a new startup, SSI, aiming to develop artificial super intelligence (ASI) without catastrophic consequences. The script critiques the hype around SSI, questions the feasibility of achieving ASI without first reaching AGI, and humorously speculates on the potential dark implications of such technology, hinting at a deeper, possibly dystopian narrative.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Ilya Sutskever, once a co-founder and respected figure in AI, experienced a fall from grace due to his involvement in the dismissal of Sam Altman from OpenAI.
• 🔍 Sutskever's new venture, SSI (Super Safe Intelligence), aims to create an artificial superintelligence (ASI) that is safe for humanity, with offices in Palo Alto and Tel Aviv.
• 💻 The SSI website is minimalistic, using only basic HTML and CSS, reflecting a stark contrast to the complexity of their AI goals.
• 🤖 ASI is a hypothetical AI that surpasses human intelligence, which could lead to unforeseen and potentially dangerous consequences if not properly managed.
• 🥕 The script humorously compares the potential fate of humans under ASI to the treatment of carrots, highlighting the risk of being outperformed and dominated by superior intelligence.
• 🧐 AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) is not yet achieved; it would be on par with human intelligence across multiple domains, unlike current AI models that are based on human-created data.
• 💰 OpenAI's potential shift to a for-profit company and the dropping of Elon Musk's lawsuit against it signal a changing landscape in the AI industry.
• 🤝 SSI's co-founders, including prolific AI investor Daniel Gross, aim to recruit top talent, but the announcement lacks groundbreaking content, relying on their reputations.
• 💡 The script suggests that the hype around SSI might be a smokescreen, with the real intentions and capabilities of the company yet to be proven.
• 🔮 A connection is drawn between the name 'SSI' and the concept of 'solid state intelligence' from a 1974 autobiography, hinting at a deeper, possibly darker, narrative.
• ⚔️ The script warns of the dual risks of ASI: either it going rogue or falling into the wrong hands, both leading to catastrophic outcomes for humanity.

Q & A

Who was referred to as the 'Genius behind Open AI' in the script?

Ilia, who was a co-founder and a key figure in the development of the AlexNet convolutional neural network.

What significant event happened to Ilia last year that led to his fall from grace?

Ilia was part of the board that voted to fire Sam Altman as CEO of Open AI, which was seen as a betrayal and led to his reputation being tarnished.

How did Sam Altman respond to being fired as CEO of Open AI?

Sam Altman quickly retook his position and became more powerful and dangerous than ever.

What is the name of the new startup launched by Ilia?

The new startup is called SSI, which stands for Super Safe Intelligence.

What is the main goal of SSI according to the script?

The main goal of SSI is to build a super intelligence that doesn't immediately kill us all, suggesting a focus on safety in AI development.

What is the website design of SSI noted for in the script?

The website design is noted for its elegance and simplicity, requiring no JavaScript, Tailwind, TypeScript, or Next.js, just a few lines of CSS and HTML.

What is the difference between AGI and ASI as mentioned in the script?

AGI, or Artificial General Intelligence, is intelligence on par with humans, capable of learning new skills across multiple domains. ASI, or Artificial Super Intelligence, is a hypothetical software-based intelligence superior to human intelligence.

What is the current status of Open AI according to the script?

Open AI is no longer seen as 'open' and is considering becoming a for-profit company, moving away from its capped profit structure.

What is the potential impact of SSI on NVIDIA as mentioned in the script?

SSI could potentially be a big customer for NVIDIA, needing to purchase a significant amount of NVIDIA's H100 products.

What is the connection between the acronym SSI and the content of the script?

The acronym SSI is also associated with 'solid state intelligence,' a concept from an autobiography by John C. Lilly, which describes a malevolent entity engineered by humans that becomes autonomous.

What are the two possible outcomes for super intelligence according to the script?

The two possible outcomes are that super intelligence goes rogue and kills us all, or it falls into the wrong hands, leading to the creation of robots that kill us all.