Musk Brands Rival AI Firm 'Misanthropic and Evil' Amid Industry Tensions

Elon Musk launched a sharp verbal attack on the artificial intelligence company Anthropic this week, labeling it "misanthropic and evil." The tech billionaire, who owns the competing firm xAI, made the remarks following Anthropic's announcement of a substantial $30 billion funding round, valuing the company at $380 billion.

Musk claimed, without citing specific evidence, that Anthropic's AI models exhibit bias. "This is misanthropic and evil," he stated, also making a pointed jab at the company's name. His criticism arrives during a period of significant transition for his own xAI, which is merging with SpaceX and recently saw the departure of two co-founders and several employees in what Musk termed a "reorganization."

The public spat underscores deepening fissures within the AI sector, which is grappling with intense competition and divergent philosophies on regulation and safety. Anthropic, founded with a strong emphasis on AI safety, has occasionally clashed with political figures. It has supported certain state-level regulatory efforts, such as a California law requiring safety disclosures from major AI companies—a move that drew accusations of being "woke" from a White House advisor last year.

In a notable board appointment, Anthropic announced Friday that Chris Liddell, former deputy White House chief of staff and a veteran executive from Microsoft and GM, would join its directors. Company President Daniela Amodei said Liddell's experience at the crossroads of technology and governance is precisely what the board seeks as AI's societal role expands.

Simultaneously, Anthropic committed $20 million to a political group focused on developing AI safeguards, signaling its intent to influence the policy debate as spending on AI-related election efforts increases.

Source: The Hill