Elon Musk is taking steps to challenge the artificial intelligence initiatives of Microsoft and Google by introducing a new concept he refers to as “truth-seeking AI,” which he claims will avoid political correctness. These remarks were made during an interview that aired late Monday.
The CEO of Twitter and Tesla reiterated his apprehensions regarding the potential risks associated with AI, warning that it could lead to “civilizational destruction.”
Musk expressed particular concern that OpenAI’s ChatGPT was being influenced to prioritize political correctness in its outputs.
“I am going to develop something called TruthGPT, or an absolute truth-seeking AI that aims to comprehend the nature of the universe,” Musk announced.
He suggested that a more advanced AI would recognize humanity as an intriguing aspect of existence and would therefore choose not to “annihilate humans.”
Musk has established a new artificial intelligence venture called X.AI, which is registered in Nevada, according to official documents.
He has also integrated Twitter into a newly formed shell company called “X,” maintaining the brand name for the platform while restructuring its business model.
The launch of Musk’s competitor to OpenAI follows closely behind his endorsement of an open letter, co-signed by numerous experts, advocating for a temporary pause in AI development.
This letter called for a moment of reflection to strengthen regulations and ensure the safety of AI systems.
However, critics of the letter dismissed it as a “hot mess” filled with “AI hype,” claiming it misrepresented the content of an academic paper.
Major technology firms, including Google, Meta, and Microsoft, have invested years into developing AI systems—previously categorized as machine learning or big data—to enhance their capabilities in areas such as translation, search functions, and targeted advertising.
Musk shared that he once had a close friendship with Google co-founder Larry Page, revealing that they would engage in lengthy discussions about AI safety.
“He seemed to have an intense desire for digital super-intelligence, basically a digital god, as soon as possible,” Musk commented on Page’s aspirations.
“You can’t just go barreling forward and hope for the best.”
Last year, OpenAI ignited significant interest in AI technology with the release of ChatGPT, a program capable of producing coherent, human-like text from brief prompts.
Although Musk was a co-founder of OpenAI, he departed from the organization in 2018, and Microsoft has since invested billions into OpenAI, integrating its technology into the Bing search engine.
