Elon Musk plans to open-source the xAI chatbot Grok

Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, is set to release its ChatGPT challenger, ‘Grok,’ as an open-source model this week. This decision aligns xAI with industry players like Meta and Mistral, who have taken similar approaches. The move comes following Musk’s legal dispute with OpenAI, where he raised concerns about the organisation deviating from its initial mission towards a for-profit model. By making the underlying code freely available, Musk aims to allow the public to experiment with AI technology and stimulate advancements in the field.

Nevertheless, the release of Grok as an open-source model has prompted discussions among tech investors regarding the potential benefits and risks associated with such a move. While open-sourcing technology is acknowledged for fostering progress, concerns have been voiced about potential misuse by malicious actors, including the development of chemical weapons or the creation of super-intelligent systems beyond human control.

Musk’s decision positions xAI as a distinctive player in the AI landscape, offering an alternative approach to companies like OpenAI and Google.