By Michael Scott
Elon Musk is challenging ChatGPT and OpenAI by launching xAI to a specific group of users.
Elon Musk is keen on his intention to challenge OpenAI, a firm he co-founded in 2015 but left afterward, with a statement that xAI, his competing tech firm, will allow a select group of users to experiment with its chatbot. On X (formerly Twitter), he wrote that xAI would introduce its first artificial intelligence to a select group. In some crucial aspects, it is the best to exist at the moment.
Musk Unveils xAI Chatbot
The Musk-supported xAI project follows artificial intelligence’s growth into the mainstream following the public release of ChatGPT by OpenAI last fall. This breakthrough has resulted in investments worth billions of dollars across tech behemoths such as Google and Microsoft. Additionally, it has caused an absorption of an expanding share of international investment as well as venture funding.
Elon revealed xAI’s launch in July by stating that despite the firm autonomy from X Corp, it would partner with Twitter, which he bought for $44B in April last year. In a Twitter Spaces meeting, he explained the plan for this new project, which included an emphasis on transparency and the value of trustworthiness over preconceptions.
At the time, Musk said that xAI’s main objective was to develop a perfect Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) with the principal purpose of comprehending the universe. The most prudent way to develop an artificial intelligence is to create one that is outstandingly truth-seeking and curious.
AGI is a form of artificial intelligence capable of learning and executing intellectual tasks human beings can. Different from specialized artificial intelligence that is very good at a single task, Artificial General Intelligence has a wider understanding, similar to a person’s brain. Nevertheless, at present, achieving it is a complicated and unfulfilled goal.
Musk Opposed to OpenAI Despite Input in Establishing
Generative AI has become quite successful owing to its capability to use a few prompts to create text, images, and audio. As such, it has altered the manner in which individuals engage with content. Additionally, more artificial intelligence chatbots are introduced daily, and most utilize Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) connected to OpenAI’s collection of artificial intelligence tools.
Musk has consistently slammed the artificial intelligence industry, especially OpenAI. He co-founded this firm with John Schulman, Sam Altman, Wojciech Zaremba, and Ilya Sutskever in 2015. Despite resigning from its board in 2018, Musk allegedly invested $100M in the firm.
Musk said he has spent several years thinking and worrying about the safety of artificial intelligence. He also said that he has been one of the major voices advocating for the regulation of artificial intelligence or oversight to have some form of arbitrator or surveillance.
Despite Musk saying he was earlier interested in studying physics and what he referred to as the ‘universe’s essential truths,’ he opted to focus on computer science since he did not intend to remain stuck developing a collider project.
In March, Musk and other technology industry personalities called for a halt in OpenAI’s creation of new artificial intelligence models following the firm’s launch of GPT-4, the most recent interaction of ChatGPT. The letter’s co-signers also included Emad Mostaque, Stability AI’s chief executive officer, Steve Wozniak, Apple’s cofounder, and Stuart Russel, the Center for Intelligent Systems director.
OpenAI invested $24M in 1X, a robotic startup, to avert a slip into the shadow of Musk-guided initiatives. It outdid Musk’s Tesla to market using a humanoid robot made to execute tasks, for instance, nursing, security, and bartending. In April, 1X introduced Eve, its first robot.
Musk Condemns OpenAI Plans to Embrace Closed-Source Profit Structure
In May, Musk criticized OpenAI by expressing worries concerning its potential move to a closed-source, for-profit structure. He claimed that it is strange for something to be a not-for-profit, open-source, and in some way convert itself to a for-profit. He compared the situation to an environmental organization created to conserve the Amazon rainforest and later changed to a lumber firm.
Despite slamming OpenAI, Musk, Altman, and others believe that regulation is essential for the responsible development of artificial intelligence. Altman appeared before a congressional hearing on the technology and recommended the development of a government agency to manage the technology’s development in the country.
Despite agreeing that regulation is crucial, Musk also claims that consensus and knowledge are crucial. He said that having insight is the best way to implement regulations. Thus, in case a public or private regulatory authority exists, a broad understanding should be the first requirement. Afterward, there should be suggested rulemaking, and if most parties agree upon the proposed rulemaking, implementation should follow.