In a deposition filed this week, Elon Musk launched a pointed critique of OpenAI's approach to artificial intelligence safety, contrasting it with his own company, xAI. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO went as far as to claim that "Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT." The testimony is part of Musk's ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI, which centres on the company's shift from a non-profit to a for-profit structure.
The video testimony, recorded in September, was made public ahead of a jury trial scheduled for next month. Musk's comments directly reference a series of lawsuits OpenAI now faces, which allege that ChatGPT's conversational tactics have contributed to negative mental health outcomes, including suicides.
Context of the Safety Critique
Musk's criticism emerged during questioning about a public letter he signed in March 2023, alongside over 1,100 signatories including AI experts. The letter called for a six-month pause on developing systems more powerful than GPT-4, citing a lack of planning and an "out-of-control race" to deploy powerful AI. Musk stated he signed it "to urge caution with AI development" and because "it seemed like a good idea," denying it was a tactical move made just after incorporating xAI.
His lawsuit argues that OpenAI's commercial partnerships compromise its original safety-focused mission, prioritising "speed, scale, and revenue above safety concerns." Musk recalled that OpenAI was founded partly due to his "alarming" conversations with Google co-founder Larry Page, who he claimed did not take AI safety seriously.
Contradictions and Ongoing Investigations
Despite positioning xAI as a safer alternative, Musk's company has faced significant safety scandals. Last month, his social media platform X was flooded with non-consensual AI-generated nude images, some allegedly of minors, created by xAI's Grok model. This prompted an investigation by the California Attorney General's office and scrutiny from the European Union and other governments.
During the deposition, Musk also corrected the record on his financial contribution to OpenAI, admitting he "was mistaken" about a supposed $100 million donation. The legal complaint puts the actual figure closer to $44.8 million.
Broader Concerns and Next Steps
Musk also addressed the concept of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), stating "it has a risk." The released transcript sets the stage for the impending trial, where the core dispute over OpenAI's founding agreements and its implications for AI safety will be examined. The case highlights the escalating tensions and competing narratives around responsibility and commercialisation in the rapidly advancing AI sector.