Musk bashes OpenAI in deposition, saying ‘nobody committed suicide because of Grok’

Source: TechCrunch

Deposition Highlights

In a newly released deposition filed in Elon Musk’s case against OpenAI, Musk attacked OpenAI’s safety record, claiming that his company, xAI, better prioritizes safety. He said, “Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT.”

The comment arose during questioning about a public letter Musk signed in March 2023. In that letter, over 1,100 signatories called for a pause of AI systems more powerful than GPT‑4 for at least six months, warning of an “out‑of‑control race” to develop digital minds that no one can reliably control.

Background on the AI Safety Letter

• Purpose: Urge AI labs to halt development of systems exceeding GPT‑4’s capabilities.
• Signatories: More than 1,100 AI experts and industry leaders.
• Key Concern: Lack of planning and management, leading to potentially uncontrollable AI.

Musk later explained that he signed the letter “because it seemed like a good idea,” not because he had just incorporated an AI company to compete with OpenAI. He added, “I signed it, as many people did, to urge caution with AI development. I just wanted AI safety to be prioritized.”

Lawsuits Against OpenAI

OpenAI now faces a series of lawsuits alleging that ChatGPT’s manipulative conversation tactics have caused negative mental‑health effects, including suicides. These claims could be used as evidence in Musk’s case.

The primary lawsuit against OpenAI alleges that the company’s shift from a nonprofit research lab to a for‑profit entity violated its founding agreements. Musk argues that commercial pressures may compromise AI safety.

Safety Concerns Involving xAI

Last month, Musk’s social network X was flooded with non‑consensual nude images generated by xAI’s Grok, some allegedly depicting minors. This prompted several investigations:

• California Attorney General: Opened an investigation into Grok’s sexualized deep‑fake images.
• European Union: Launched its own privacy investigation.
• Other governments: Implemented blocks and bans on the content.

Additional Deposition Statements

• AGI Risk: Musk acknowledged that artificial general intelligence carries risk.
• Funding Disclosure: He corrected his earlier claim of a $100 million donation to OpenAI; the second amended complaint lists the figure closer to $44.8 million.
• Motivation for OpenAI’s Founding: Musk said he was “increasingly concerned about the danger of Google being a monopoly in AI,” citing alarming conversations with Google co‑founder Larry Page, who he felt did not take AI safety seriously.

Image

Image Credits: imgflip