xAI CEO Elon Musk is making ChatGPT competitor Grok open-source. His decision comes after Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, a company he co-founded, for allegedly abandoning its original non-profit mission.
Musk’s intention to open-source Grok was announced on a March 11 X post. This move aligns with Musk’s long-standing advocacy for responsible AI development, as demonstrated by his call for a “third-party referee” in AI development at the UK’s AI Safety Summit in 2023.
Elon Musk’s departure from OpenAI due to disagreements over the organization’s direction and strategy led him to launch xAI. The launch of Grok in November 2023 further highlighted Musk’s commitment to open-source and non-profit AI initiatives.
The first human received an implant from @Neuralink yesterday and is recovering well.
Initial results show promising neuron spike detection.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 29, 2024
In a November podcast with Lex Fridman, Musk criticized OpenAI’s transition from a non-profit, open-source initiative to a profit-driven, closed-source model.
Specifically, Musk is recognized for his opposition to large tech companies profiting from AI development, frequently highlighting concerns about the ethical implications of such practices.
Open-sourcing Grok will enable xAI to align with companies like France’s Mistral, which advocates for open access to AI models.
This approach allows developers to collaborate and accelerate improvements
Regardless, tech investors are divided on open-sourcing AI, particularly in light of Musk’s lawsuit. While some see it as a catalyst for innovation, others are worried about potential misuse.
Recently, Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, claiming it breached the agreement made when OpenAI was