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Elon Musk launches xAI 'to understand reality'

Musk has assembled a team collected from DeepMind, OpenAI, Microsoft Research, Google Research, and other leading AI developers.

TJ Denzer

July 12, 2023 1:12 PM

Image via xAI

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It looks like Elon Musk is beginning yet another new venture this week with the announcement of xAI. This new venture combines the expert talents of developers throughout the AI sector from leading companies with a purpose to “understand the true nature of the universe.” The group has officially launched and will have a Twitter Spaces chat later this week to discuss more deeply what xAI is meant to do.

The opening of xAI was announced with its new website and, of course, by Elon Musk on Twitter. The new group is expected to host a Twitter Spaces chat on Friday, July 14, 2023, in order to better explain exactly what it is meant to do. Elon himself says that xAI is meant to discover “what are the most fundamental unknown questions?,” though that doesn’t seem to clarify. Nonetheless, xAI has assembled a large group of AI-specialized developers to help carry out its goal. The team is said to have been made up of developers that have worked at DeepMind, OpenAI, Google Research, Microsoft Research, Tesla, and the University of Toronto.

If Elon Musk’s previous stance on artificial intelligence is any indication, xAI may strive towards safety in AI technology. He previously expressed that he felt AI development was moving too quickly and is a dangerous technology that needs regulation. Musk felt strongly enough on the matter that he joined Steve Wozniak and other tech personalities in signing an open letter demanding that AI development be slowed down until we can better understand its risks. Whatever xAI is meant to accomplish, it seems safety will be at the forefront of that, too, as developer Dan Hendrycks was quick to share that he will be advising on AI safety for the project.

We’re likely to learn more about xAI on July 14. Until then, stay tuned for more news and updates on Elon Musk and xAI right here at Shacknews.

TJ Denzer

Senior News Editor

TJ Denzer is a player and writer with a passion for games that has dominated a lifetime. He found his way to the Shacknews roster in late 2019 and has worked his way to Senior News Editor since. Between news coverage, he also aides notably in livestream projects like the indie game-focused Indie-licious, the Shacknews Stimulus Games, and the Shacknews Dump. You can reach him at tj.denzer@shacknews.com and also find him on Twitter @JohnnyChugs.