- Tesla CEO Elon Musk has claimed he is “the reason OpenAI exists,” referring to its early investment in an artificial intelligence startup.
- Musk reportedly dropped his support for OpenAI after disagreements with senior executives over the pace and nature of technological progress.
- Tesla’s CEO made this comment in an interview with CNBC’s David Faber, suggesting that OpenAI isn’t doing enough to ensure secure AI development.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Tuesday, citing past investments in Tesla, claimed he was “OpenAI’s raison d’être,” pointing to Microsoft’s dominance over AI companies. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has strongly denied the allegations.
“I came up with the name,” Musk told CNBC’s David Faber. He also said he helped recruit key scientists and engineers for the company.
Musk has repeatedly argued that Microsoft controls OpenAI and that OpenAI’s profit-limiting model is questionable. Musk was an early backer of the AI startup, reportedly pledging $1 billion in backing before pulling out due to disagreements about the speed of OpenAI’s progress. Ultimately, he said, he invested about $50 million.
He also suggested that OpenAI doesn’t focus enough on secure AI development. Musk said he signed an open letter in March calling for a moratorium on advanced AI development while safeguards were in place, but he knew nothing was likely to happen with the letter. told Faber.
Despite signing the letter, Musk still incorporated rival AI firm X.AI in April.
But Musk added that signing the letter warning of the dangers of AI was something he wanted to do “for the record.”
A spokesperson for OpenAI was not immediately available for comment.
Separately, Musk told Faber that he was once close friends with Google co-founder Larry Page, and that the two would have lengthy conversations about the nature of artificial intelligence.
Mr. Musk argued that Mr. Page was “pretty nonchalant” about AI. Mr. Musk claimed that Mr. Page “didn’t seem concerned about the safety of AI,” adding, “The bottom line is that Mr. Larry sees me as more human than machine-conscious. I called him ‘speciesist’ as a.”
Larry Page could not be reached for comment.
