Elon Musk Slams OpenAI’s Safety Record in Court Deposition
-

In a newly released deposition tied to his lawsuit against OpenAI, Elon Musk sharply criticized the company’s safety practices, arguing that his own AI venture, xAI, places a stronger emphasis on user protection. Musk controversially stated, “Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT,” referencing ongoing lawsuits that allege harmful psychological effects linked to OpenAI’s chatbot.
The comments surfaced during questioning about a March 2023 public letter Musk signed, urging AI labs to pause development of systems more powerful than GPT-4 for at least six months. Signed by over 1,100 individuals, the letter warned of an “out-of-control race” in AI development without sufficient oversight. Musk now appears to be using those safety concerns to reinforce his broader legal argument that OpenAI’s shift toward commercial priorities may have compromised its original mission.