Why Ilya Sutskever Turned Down $32 Billion and What Meta Did Next

Imagine starting a company with no product, only 20 employees, and a one-page website, and then getting a $32 billion offer to buy it.

That’s exactly what happened with Safe Superintelligence (SSI), a startup co-founded by Ilya Sutskever. He’s one of the key minds behind OpenAI and helped build ChatGPT. But when Meta tried to buy his company earlier this year, he said no.

Why would anyone walk away from $32 billion?

That decision sparked headlines, debates, and even a shift in Meta’s entire AI hiring strategy.

Who Is Ilya Sutskever?

Sutskever is not just any tech founder. He co-created OpenAI, shaped GPT’s early models, and stood as one of the leading voices in artificial general intelligence. In 2023, he left OpenAI to start SSI, a company with a very focused goal: build a superintelligent AI safely.

Unlike OpenAI or Google, SSI is not releasing regular product updates or flashy demos. In fact, they’ve promised not to share anything until they’ve actually achieved their mission.

That secrecy makes them one of the most mysterious players in the AI world.

Meta’s Bold Move

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, saw SSI’s potential early. Backed by $2 billion in funding and a $32 billion valuation, the startup had already attracted support from tech giants like Google and Nvidia. Meta didn’t want to miss out.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a serious offer to buy SSI, but Sutskever refused. He also turned down Meta’s effort to hire him directly.

So what did Zuckerberg do next?

He pivoted and tried to hire the people who helped build SSI instead.

Hiring the Brains Behind the Curtain

After the failed acquisition, Meta quickly shifted focus to Daniel Gross, SSI’s co-founder and CEO. Gross is no stranger to big tech. He once led AI efforts at Apple and helped shape Siri. He also co-runs the VC fund NFDG with Nat Friedman, the former CEO of GitHub.

Meta reportedly struck a deal to hire both Gross and Friedman. At the same time, they are taking a stake in NFDG, one of the most respected early-stage AI venture funds in Silicon Valley.

These two leaders will now join Meta’s AI team under Alexandr Wang, founder of Scale AI, who also joined Meta earlier this month in a $14.3 billion deal.

The Bigger Picture: Meta’s Race for AGI

This isn’t just about one failed buyout.

Meta is in a race against OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and startups like Anthropic to build AGI, artificial intelligence that can match or exceed human intelligence.

Their previous model, LLaMA, had some setbacks. Some key team members left. Projects were delayed. Now, Meta is fighting to catch up.

They’re building a superintelligence team right near their headquarters, pouring billions into new hires, infrastructure, and even data suppliers like Scale AI.

By hiring Gross and Friedman, Meta isn’t just picking up talent. They’re gaining insight, connections, and credibility in the AGI race.

Why Did Ilya Say No?

Sutskever’s rejection wasn’t just about money. It was about control.

Sources say SSI wants to stay fully independent. Unlike OpenAI, which has shifted toward a more commercial focus, SSI wants to build safe superintelligence without outside pressure.

• They don’t want shareholders rushing them to ship half-baked products.
• They don’t want to chase headlines.
• They just want to build quietly, safely, and without compromise.

For Sutskever, the decision came down to values over valuation. Accepting Meta’s offer could have meant giving up control of the mission. He believes AGI must be built without the push for profits or growth targets. Independence, to him, is essential for developing a truly safe and aligned intelligence system. Turning down $32 billion wasn’t a gamble, it was a commitment to doing things differently.

In an age where every tech company is rushing to release the next GPT, that mindset feels radical.

What Makes SSI So Mysterious?

SSI might be one of the most secretive AI companies on Earth. They have no public demos. No product announcements. Not even a flashy landing page.

But what they do have is top-tier talent and massive backing.

In April 2025, they raised $2 billion at a $32 billion valuation. This followed a $1 billion round in 2024. Google, Nvidia, Andreessen Horowitz, and DST Global are among their supporters.

They’re also rumored to be one of Google Cloud’s largest external users of TPU chips and have quietly started hiring researchers in Tel Aviv.

And yet, almost no one knows what they’re building.

Tech’s Talent War Heats Up

Meta’s offer to SSI wasn’t a one-off event.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said recently that Meta has offered OpenAI employees bonuses up to $100 million to switch teams. So far, none of their top staff have left.

Other companies are playing the same game.

• OpenAI paid $6.5 billion to bring on iPhone designer Jony Ive and his startup.
• Google lured back the founders of Character.AI.
• Microsoft bought Inflection AI for $650 million and brought DeepMind’s co-founder onboard.

This isn’t just about companies. It’s about people. The AI race is now a hiring war.

What’s Next?

For Meta, this new team, Gross, Friedman, Wang, and others, is the start of a reboot. They’re doubling down on AGI. They want to be seen as serious players in the future of AI.

For Ilya Sutskever, the story is different. He’s betting that slow, secretive, and safe is the better way to build AGI. He walked away from $32 billion to prove it.

The world may not see what SSI is working on for years. But when it does, it might change everything.

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Also read: Meta Buys 49% of Scale AI as 28‑Year‑Old Dropout CEO Joins Its New Superintelligence Team