Musk's 'Grok' Chatbot Going Open-Source This Week
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Facts
- Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that xAI this week will open-source its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, Grok.1
- According to xAI, Grok is a 'frontier LLM' (Large Language Model) connected to real-time data from X. Its stated purpose is to 'maximally benefit all of humanity' and 'empower research and innovation.'2
- Musk has criticized AI companies for not being open-sourced, previously accusing competitor OpenAI of turning into a 'closed source, maximum-profit company effectively controlled by Microsoft.'3
- While announcing Grok's move to open source, Musk further alleged that OpenAI was 'a lie' when responding to an account claiming that OpenAI should follow suit.4
- Musk sued OpenAI in February, claiming that the company no longer follows its founding agreement of remaining open-sourced and not-for-profit. Musk helped start OpenAI in 2015 before leaving in 2020.5
- Musk bought X in October 2022 before launching xAI in July 2023.6
Sources: 1twitter.com (a), 2AI, 3twitter.com (b), 4twitter.com (c), 5Documentcloud and 6BBC News.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by Gizmodo Australia. Although Musk's announcement lacks detail, his move to open-source Grok further validates his criticism of OpenAI. While tech companies are renowned for shielding their most valuable AI data, it's no secret that OpenAI has reversed its founding mission. Musk's Grok decision is another valid swipe at OpenAI's transition.
- Narrative B, as provided by sfchronicle.com. Musk's attempts to establish himself as a moral leader within the AI sector are disingenuous. The reality is, despite his emphasis on the ethics of technology, the X owner often feigns interest in what is 'good' for financial benefit. Musk's intent to defend open-source AI should not be trusted.