Elon Musk recently hosted an open house event for his AI company, xAI, in San Francisco, pitching the company to prospective employees. Musk highlighted the speed at which xAI is developing products and creating AI tools in a fast-paced environment, comparing the company to the SR-71 Blackbird jet. The event took place at the Pioneer Building, the former headquarters of OpenAI, the leading AI company known for ChatGPT. Musk’s rivalry with OpenAI was evident, as he expressed distrust towards the company, calling it “closed, for-maximum-profit AI.”
During the event, Musk addressed a crowd of about 150 people, mainly men, and took questions for about an hour and a half. He reiterated his lack of trust in OpenAI, positioning xAI as the ‘good guys’ in the AI industry. Despite the ongoing feud between Musk and OpenAI, xAI did not return a request for comment, further emphasizing the tension between the two companies. Musk’s remarks and the office location highlight the significant role OpenAI plays in the narrative of xAI, with Musk making pointed jabs at his former company.
The event coincided with OpenAI’s annual Dev Day, leading to speculation about the timing and intent behind xAI’s open house. Musk joked about building “BasedGPT” and made references to OpenAI throughout the evening. xAI even cleared out OpenAI’s furniture from the office, keeping a printed-out cutout of OpenAI President Greg Brockman hanging on the ceiling. The gulf between xAI and OpenAI is noticeable, with the latter recently closing a record-breaking funding round. However, xAI has also raised significant funds, with Musk announcing a $6 billion Series B earlier this year.
During the Q&A session, Musk touched on various topics, including plans to open source their models, advice for young people in AI, and the timeline for reaching Mars with SpaceX. The company also showcased an unreleased image generation model, generating AI-generated images that intrigued attendees. The event had a party atmosphere with a nerdy touch, featuring an open bar, music coded in real-time by a DJ, and chess boards for attendees to challenge each other. Despite the party atmosphere, security was stringent, with metal detectors and bag checks required for entry.
Attendees were impressed by the opportunity to interact closely with Musk, the world’s richest person. Many noted the informal atmosphere of the event, contrasting it with the polished feel of OpenAI’s Dev Day. Musk responded to a post comparing the two events, stating that OpenAI didn’t start out polished either. The rivalry between xAI and OpenAI, fueled by Musk’s distrust and desire to position xAI as the antithesis to his former company, adds a layer of intrigue to the competitive landscape of the AI industry.
