13/07/2023
Elon Musk Announces New Venture: xAI
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has officially launched his new AI initiative, xAI. With a lofty mission to “understand the true nature of the universe,” the project is already causing a buzz in the tech community.
Team Behind xAI
The company boasts a 12-person team, a mix of top-tier professionals previously associated with renowned names like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft.
Mission and Vision
While the xAI website remains sparse with details, Musk's vision is clear. During a recent Twitter Spaces discussion, he highlighted his belief in the potential perils of artificial superintelligence. Through xAI, he envisions the birth of a "maximally curious AI," an entity focused on understanding the universe.
His perspective on this AI? An inherently "pro-humanity" machine, given its likely fascination with human existence over the alternative.
Collaborations and Connections
Although operating as a distinct entity from X Corp, xAI is poised to work in tandem with other Musk ventures, including X (Twitter) and Tesla. Greg Yang, one of the pioneering team members of xAI, spoke about the goal to create an AI that offers a deeper, previously unimagined comprehension of our mathematical universe.
Advisory and Safety
Safety seems to be at the forefront of xAI's ambitions. Dan Hendrycks, from the Centre of AI Safety, stands as an advisor, advocating the long-termist ideology. This belief places a higher moral weight on potential future lives in an expansive, space-bound civilization.
Elon Musk's stance? An AI nurtured to be 'curious' may prove superior to one hardwired with human-defined 'morality' due to the multifaceted and subjective nature of moral values.
Controversies and Concerns
However, not all recent news about Musk has been positive. Post his takeover of Twitter, there's been backlash against his decision to reverse bans on numerous accounts, leading to allegations of supporting far-right ideologies. This move saw Australia's eSafety Commissioner noting a spike in online hate complaints related to Twitter.
Musk's Views on OpenAI
In a past dialogue with former Fox News anchor, Tucker Carlson, Musk discussed 'Truth GPT', an answer to OpenAI's widely-used ChatGPT. Having left OpenAI in 2018, Musk's recent comments indicate a shift in sentiment, suggesting the organization is now “effectively controlled by Microsoft”.
Final Thoughts
As anticipation around xAI grows, one thing's certain: Elon Musk's influence in the AI domain continues to be profound and dynamic.