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Safe Superintelligence, an artificial intelligence startup co-founded last year by Ilya Sutskever, former chief scientist of OpenAI, is currently in discussions to secure funding at a minimum valuation of $20 billion, as per four sources briefed by Reuters.

This proposed valuation represents a fourfold increase from the company's previous $5 billion valuation following its funding round in September, which had backing from investors like Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, and DST Global.

SSI's fundraising efforts are seen as a test for prominent AI ventures to maintain premium valuations in the wake of industry reevaluation prompted by DeepSeek, a Chinese startup, last month.

The company's focus on developing "safe superintelligence" aligning with human interests sets it apart, despite not having revenue-generating operations.

While discussions with both current and potential investors are at early stages and terms are subject to change, details regarding the exact funding amount sought by SSI remain undisclosed.

Although the startup, with locations in Palo Alto and Tel Aviv, has not provided comments, its mission to advance safe AI underpins the interest driven by Sutskever's esteemed background and innovative undertakings in the AI sector.

Recognized for his pivotal roles in advancing generative AI, Sutskever's influence on the industry has been far-reaching, evident in the significant investments in AI technologies and infrastructures.

SSI's emphasis on long-term growth and independence from short-term commercial demands, in contrast to the transition of other AI labs towards commercialization, is distinctive. This strategy has positioned the company as a notable player amid the evolving AI landscape.

Notably, SSI has maintained a low-profile approach regarding its unique research direction and operational strategies, aiming to pursue groundbreaking advancements in AI technologies.

As fundraising activities for foundation model companies continue to surge, including negotiations for OpenAI at a potential $300 billion valuation, investors are met with new challenges amidst industry transformations triggered by entities like DeepSeek.