- Musk seeks $1B for AI startup xAI to fund ChatGPT rival Grok.
- Bot plans “rebellious streak” and X integration beyond GPT limits.
- Though launched just 2 months ago, Grok will soon reach X members.
Summary
Elon Musk wants to spawn an AI rebellion — and needs another $865 million to pull it off.
The billionaire tech mogul aims to raise $1 billion for newly launched startup xAI and its cornerstone conversational bot, Grok.
An SEC filing revealed that Musk has banked $135 million from unnamed backers.
Grok represents Musk’s alternative chatbot to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google Bard.
ChatGPT but rebellious?
But unlike those polished services, xAI promises Grok will have more of a “rebellious streak” in tone and unfiltered knowledge.
The company plans to tap Musk’s recently acquired social network X as a unique real-time information source beyond what current AI can access.
It could allow Grok to stand out — if it proves smart enough to separate fact from X’s frequent misinformation.
Musk said engineering work only began two months ago, but Grok will soon reach X Premium tier members for early testing.
Building OpenAI’s Competitor
The ambitious timeframe matches Musk’s public impatience over AI’s current limitations. He originally co-founded OpenAI but left the board in 2018 and recently criticized leadership decisions.
Now, Musk is essentially pitting himself against his former startup with xAI. And his flagship bot needs that extra $865 million in backing to have any chance versus ChatGPT’s rapid progress.
Some tech investors may find betting against OpenAI’s bright minds tough, especially given Musk’s recent struggles at the helm of X.
Still, as one of tech’s most influential leaders, he has plenty of clout left to rally more financial support.
