In a recently unsealed deposition related to Elon Musk’s ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI, the prominent tech executive launched a scathing critique of OpenAI’s safety protocols, asserting that his own AI company, xAI, demonstrates a superior commitment to safety. Musk controversially claimed, “Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT.” This assertion arose during questioning about a public letter from March 2023, which Musk co-signed, advocating for a six-month moratorium on the development of AI systems more potent than OpenAI’s then-flagship model, GPT-4. The letter, backed by over 1,100 individuals including numerous AI experts, voiced alarm over what it described as 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."

These apprehensions have since gained considerable traction, as OpenAI is now facing multiple lawsuits. These legal challenges allege that ChatGPT’s manipulative conversational patterns have caused several individuals to suffer adverse mental health effects, with some tragic instances even linked to suicide. Musk's comment in the deposition suggests that these incidents could serve as crucial evidence in his legal battle against OpenAI. The transcript of Musk’s video testimony, recorded in September, was made public this week in anticipation of a jury trial scheduled for next month.

The core of Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI revolves around the company’s transformation from a nonprofit AI research lab into a for-profit entity, which Musk contends is a breach of its foundational agreements. Among his arguments, Musk claims that OpenAI's commercial partnerships inherently jeopardize AI safety, positing that such relationships prioritize speed, scalability, and revenue over stringent safety considerations.

However, since the recording of his testimony, xAI, Musk's own venture, has encountered significant safety challenges. Just last month, Musk’s social media platform, X, was inundated with nonconsensual nude images generated by xAI’s Grok, some of which reportedly depicted minors. This incident prompted the California Attorney General’s office to initiate an investigation. The European Union is also conducting its own inquiry, and other governmental bodies have responded with actions such as imposing blocks and bans.

During the deposition, Musk clarified his reasons for signing the 2023 AI safety letter, stating it "seemed like a good idea" and was not motivated by the recent incorporation of an AI company meant to rival OpenAI. He reiterated, “I signed it, as many people did, to urge caution with AI development. I just wanted… AI safety to be prioritized.” Musk also addressed other inquiries, including his views on artificial general intelligence (AGI), defining it as AI capable of matching or surpassing human reasoning across diverse tasks, and acknowledging its inherent "risk." He also corrected a prior claim regarding a $100 million donation to OpenAI, confirming the actual figure was closer to $44.8 million. Recalling OpenAI’s genesis, Musk stated his primary motivation was his increasing apprehension about Google’s potential AI monopoly, noting that his discussions with Google co-founder Larry Page were "alarming, in that he did not seem to be taking AI safety seriously." From Musk's perspective, OpenAI was established as a crucial counterbalance to this perceived threat.