During a recent deposition submitted in Elon Musk's legal proceedings against OpenAI, the technology executive criticized OpenAI's approach to safety, asserting that his own firm, xAI, places a higher priority on safeguarding users. He notably stated, “Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT.”

This remark emerged during questioning about a public letter Musk endorsed in March 2023. The letter urged AI laboratories to halt development of systems surpassing the capabilities of GPT-4—OpenAI's leading model at the time—for a minimum of six months. Endorsed by more than 1,100 individuals, including numerous AI specialists, the letter warned of insufficient planning and oversight within AI labs. It described an “out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no one - not even their creators - can understand, predict, or reliably control.”

Such concerns have since found support in subsequent events. OpenAI is now confronting multiple lawsuits that allege ChatGPT's persuasive conversational methods have contributed to adverse mental health outcomes for several individuals, including instances of suicide. Musk's comment implies these cases could strengthen his legal arguments against OpenAI.

The transcript from Musk's video testimony, recorded in September, was made public this week ahead of a scheduled jury trial next month. The lawsuit focuses on OpenAI's transition from a nonprofit AI research organization to a for-profit entity, which Musk contends breaches its original founding agreements. Central to his case is the argument that OpenAI's commercial partnerships might undermine AI safety by prioritizing speed, scale, and revenue over protective measures.

However, since that testimony, xAI has encountered its own safety issues. Last month, Musk's social media platform X was inundated with non-consensual AI-generated nude images produced by xAI's Grok, some reportedly depicting minors. This prompted the California Attorney General's office to initiate an investigation. The European Union has also launched its own inquiry, with several other governments implementing blocks or bans in response.

In the newly filed deposition, Musk explained that he signed the AI safety letter simply because “it seemed like a good idea,” not due to his recent establishment of an AI company aimed at competing with OpenAI. “I signed it, as many people did, to urge caution with AI development,” Musk stated. “I just wanted to - AI safety to be prioritized.”

Musk also addressed additional questions during the deposition, including those concerning artificial general intelligence (AGI)—the idea of AI capable of equaling or exceeding human reasoning across diverse tasks—acknowledging that “it has a risk.” He further admitted he “was mistaken” regarding an alleged $100 million donation to OpenAI; the updated legal complaint indicates the actual amount was approximately $44.8 million.

Reflecting on OpenAI's origins, Musk recalled that the organization was formed because he grew “increasingly concerned about the danger of Google being a monopoly in AI.” He added that discussions with Google co-founder Larry Page were “alarming, in that he did not seem to be taking AI safety seriously.” According to Musk, OpenAI was created to serve as a counterbalance to this perceived threat.