Elon Musk's AI startup, xAI, has successfully raised $6 billion in its latest Series-B funding round, bringing the company's post-money valuation to $24 billion. Founded last summer, xAI aims to introduce its first products to the market, develop advanced infrastructure, and accelerate the research and development of future technologies.
Key investors in this funding round include Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and Saudi Arabian Prince Al Waleed bin Talal. Musk announced the funding achievement on X, formerly known as Twitter, and hinted at more announcements in the coming weeks.
In addition to the funding, xAI has launched Grok, a new chatbot described by The Verge as an edgier alternative to OpenAI's ChatGPT. Currently, Grok is available exclusively to premium subscribers of X. According to xAI's website, \"Grok is designed to answer questions with a bit of wit and has a rebellious streak, so please don't use it if you hate humor!\"
The AI landscape is becoming increasingly competitive, with major tech giants like Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta investing billions into AI startups and projects. Microsoft, for instance, has strengthened its position through a multi-billion-dollar partnership with OpenAI. Meanwhile, Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, has taken legal action against the company, claiming it has deviated from its original mission to benefit humanity.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
