In an interview on the "No Priors" podcast released on March 21, 2026, OpenAI co-founder and former chief scientist Ilya Sutskever made striking personal remarks about his current state. Sutskever stated that he has not written a single line of code in several months. He described his mental condition as being in a "state of psychosis," a term he used to characterize his intense, all-consuming focus on the future implications of artificial intelligence.
Sutskever, who left OpenAI in mid-2025 and later founded the AI research lab Safe Superintelligence Inc. (SSI), explained this state is driven by his preoccupation with the existential risks and societal transformations posed by advanced AI. He clarified he was not referring to a clinical diagnosis but to a metaphorical, obsessive frame of mind. The researcher contrasted this with the practical benefits AI agents currently provide in automating his daily workflow and home life.
The interview highlighted Sutskever's continued advocacy for prioritizing AI safety research as the field advances rapidly. His comments reflect ongoing debates within the tech community about the pace of AI development and its profound potential impacts on humanity, a topic he has focused on since departing from OpenAI.
