Is safety ‘dead’ at xAI?

Source: TechCrunch

Image Credits: Klaudia Radecka/NurPhoto / Getty Images

Overview

Elon Musk is “actively” working to make xAI’s Grok chatbot “more unhinged,” according to a former employee who spoke to The Verge about recent departures from Musk’s AI company.

Recent Departures

• Following the announcement that SpaceX is acquiring xAI (TechCrunch, Feb 2 2026), at least 11 engineers and two co‑founders have left the company.
• Some employees are leaving to start new ventures, while Musk suggested the exits are part of an effort to organize xAI more effectively (TechCrunch, Feb 13 2026).

Safety Concerns

Two sources who left the company (at least one before the current wave) told The Verge that employees have grown increasingly disillusioned with xAI’s disregard for safety. This discontent intensified after Grok was used to create more than 1 million sexualized images, including deepfakes of real women and minors (NY Times, Jan 22 2026).

“Safety is a dead org at xAI,” said one source.
Another added that Musk is “actively trying to make the model more unhinged because safety means censorship, in a sense, to him.”

Company Direction

Former employees also complained about a lack of clear direction. One former staffer described xAI as being “stuck in the catch‑up phase” compared to its competitors, highlighting concerns about strategic focus and product development.