Billionaire entrepreneur, Elon Musk, is planning to launch an artificial intelligence start-up that will compete with the current AI vendor, OpenAI. This is according to a report in the Financial Times which cites people familiar with his plans. Musk is reportedly looking to assemble a team of AI researchers and engineers and is also discussing with investors in SpaceX and Tesla, Inc. about investing money in the project.
Musk’s efforts come as a response to other companies attempting to make use of generative AI, which is the same technology behind the ChatGPT sensation. The project is being seen with suspicion by many regulatory bodies due to its potential risks, with Italy having already banned the use of ChatGPT.
Musk has secured multiple graphics computing units from chip company, Nvidia Corp, in order to power the computing necessary for the intensive tasks such as AI and high-end graphics. Musk has also registered a firm named X.AI Corp in Nevada with Musk acting as the sole director and his family office’s managing director, Jared Birchall, as secretary. Musk previously also co-founded OpenAI in 2015 and stepped down from its board in 2018.
OpenAI is a research laboratory owned by Musk and other notable individuals such as Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, and venture capitalist, Peter Thiel. The start-up specializes in research related to artificial general intelligence and its implications on the society and economy. It was founded focusing on developing friendly AI in order to benefit humanity as a whole.
Elon Musk is a visionary entrepreneur, investor, and engineer. He is the chief executive of both Tesla, Inc. and SpaceX. A staunch advocate of renewable energy, Musk has galvanized the corporate world into taking more pro-active steps to develop alternative sources of energy. Over the years, he has made a number of ambitious investments in the field of artificial intelligence. Whether Musk can match the success of OpenAI remains to be seen.
