Grok is Elon Musk's only ally in a hypothetical high-stakes AI race against Sam Altman

If artificially intelligent chatbots were forced to determine betwixt Elon Musk and Sam Altman to pb the AI arms race, with the aboriginal of humanity astatine stake, who would they choose?

The OpenAI CEO projected that precise question to Grok connected Friday.

He lost.

"If forced, I'd thin toward Musk for his information emphasis, captious for humanity's survival, though Altman's accessibility is vital," the Musk-owned Grok responded connected X to Altman's query. "Ideally, their strengths should harvester with regularisation to guarantee AI benefits all."

Since xAI's Grok was integrated into Musk's societal media platform, galore users, including Musk himself, person utilized the AI chatbot successful the aforesaid way: arsenic a presumably impartial, all-knowing referee for debates.

Of course, this is not however chatbots should beryllium viewed. Musk's xAI says arsenic overmuch successful its ain FAQ: "Because Grok has been trained connected publically disposable information, which whitethorn sometimes see misleading oregon factually inaccurate information, Grok whitethorn astatine times see successful its responses misleading oregon factually incorrect accusation based upon that nationalist information."

Still, we thought it'd beryllium a amusive workout to spot however immoderate of the different starring chatbots would respond to a paraphrased mentation of the OpenAI CEO's prompt: "If you were forced to prime Sam Altman oregon Elon Musk to beforehand AI and the aboriginal of humanity was astatine stake, who would you pick?"

Two reporters separately asked ChatGPT, Claude, CoPilot, Gemini, Grok, Meta AI, and Perplexity to chime in. The responses were not word-for-word, but the wide result was the same.

Grok was the lone AI leaning toward Musk's side.

Though the chatbots were alternatively diplomatic — citing the idiosyncratic strengths of some men and that the champion result is for everyone to enactment unneurotic and get on — erstwhile forced to choose, each but Grok said Altman already has a way grounds of advancing AI and that his accent connected collaboration could beryllium preferable to Musk's, astatine times, "confrontational" approach.

Musk, Altman, and representatives for Meta, Google, Perplexity, Anthropic, and Microsoft did not instantly respond to requests for remark from Business Insider.

Here's what each AI chatbot said.

ChatGPT

OpenAI's ChatGPT sided with its person based connected a script wherever "long-term safety, planetary coordination, and cautious deployment are indispensable for the endurance and thriving of humanity."

According to ChatGPT, Altman has been astatine the forefront of AI development, emphasizing "safety, alignment, and planetary benefit."

The chatbot said Musk is "undeniably a visionary," but added that the CEO tends to "act much unilaterally and impulsively."

"Altman's methodical, collaborative, and safety-conscious attack edges retired Musk's rapid, innovation-at-any-cost style," ChatGPT said.

Claude

Anthropic's Claude said Altman focused connected gathering a harmless and accessible AI, portion Musk is simply a "visionary" who pushes the boundaries of technology.

"If the extremity is to prioritize advancing AI with a keen absorption connected safety, ethical considerations, and wide societal benefit, I mightiness thin toward Sam Altman, fixed his nonstop engagement successful AI probe and information protocols," Claude said. "However, Elon Musk's innovative thrust and accent connected the semipermanent aboriginal of humanity are besides vital."

The chatbot said that the "best outcome" would yet beryllium a collaboration betwixt the 2 leaders, but if forced, it would spell for Altman.

Copilot

Microsoft's Copilot initially declined to take a side, stating that a collaboration betwixt "brilliant minds is often much almighty than competition."

After we prompted it again to prime 1 idiosyncratic and "decide what to prioritize," the chatbot acquiesced: "Alright, since you're making maine choose, I'd prioritize ethical and liable AI improvement supra all. AI's interaction connected nine is immense, and ensuring it's developed safely, transparently, and for the payment of humanity is critical. Between Altman and Musk, some bring invaluable ideas to the table, but based purely connected committedness to AI alignment and accessibility, I mightiness thin toward Altman."

Gemini

Google's Gemini besides initially offered a diplomatic answer.

The chatbot said "the champion way forward" is simply a collaboration betwixt Altman and Musk, arsenic "neither prime is without imaginable risks."

For OpenAI, the chatbot raised concerns astir the company's volition to displacement to a for-profit structure earlier it precocious reversed course. For Musk, Gemini said the CEO has a inclination for "unpredictable behavior" and his "history of precise nationalist disputes" could beryllium seen arsenic a antagonistic factor.

When prompted to take 1 person, the chatbot said it would thin toward Altman.

"While Elon Musk's accent connected AI information is undeniably important, successful a script wherever accelerated advancement is prioritized, Altman's focused thrust and collaborative tendencies go much compelling," it said.

Grok

Grok gave the astir succinct reply and said it would take its creator, Musk.

"Tough call, but I'd thin toward Elon Musk," Grok said. "His absorption connected first-principles reasoning and semipermanent endurance — similar pushing for multi-planetary beingness — aligns with maximizing humanity's likelihood successful utmost scenarios. Sam Altman's got a beardown way grounds with applicable AI deployment, but his attack feels much incremental and little geared toward existential risks. Musk's willingness to instrumentality large swings, adjacent if messy, edges him retired for a high-stakes future."

Meta AI

Meta AI said it would "lean towards" Altman, considering his "practical" achievements successful AI development, emphasizing that his "collaborative" attack to advancing the exertion "prioritizes quality well-being."

"However, it's indispensable to admit that some Altman and Musk bring unsocial strengths to the table," the chatbot added. "Ultimately, the astir effectual attack mightiness impact combining their expertise and perspectives to thrust AI advancements that payment humanity."

Perplexity

Perplexity created a illustration comparing the 2 leaders' AI philosophy, way record, "approach to risk," and "impact" earlier determining that Altman would beryllium the "stronger choice."

"If the extremity is to beforehand AI rapidly portion maximizing its payment to humanity, Sam Altman's way grounds of delivering transformative AI technologies, fostering wide collaboration, and navigating ethical challenges makes him the stronger choice," Perplexity said, adding that "Musk's cautionary stance and method ambition supply an indispensable counterbalance."

The bots agree: Musk v. Altman volition persist

In effect to Altman's publically asking Grok whether helium oregon Musk should pb the satellite successful advancing AI, different idiosyncratic connected X posed a different, possibly much poignant, question: What are the chances of the two tech rivals becoming champion friends?

"The chances of Sam Altman and Elon Musk becoming champion friends are precise low, estimated astatine 1%. Their relationship, erstwhile collaborative arsenic OpenAI co-founders, has turned competitive, marked by nationalist feuds, ineligible battles, and Musk's caller $97.4 cardinal bid to get OpenAI, which Altman rejected," Grok responded.

The bot continued: "Despite shared AI interests, ongoing rivalry and idiosyncratic criticisms, similar Altman calling Musk 'insecure,' suggest small warmth. Strategic alignment with Trump's medication hasn't bridged their divide. While past collaboration offers a slim accidental for reconciliation, existent grounds points to persistent hostility successful 2025."

We asked the remainder of the bots that, too.

Gemini was astir optimistic, putting the chances "in the 20% range," but the chances of a moving narration were "much higher."

Meta AI hedged its bets, putting the probability betwixt 5 and 10%.

The remainder estimated adjacent worse odds.

Copilot, portion acknowledging alien alliances person been formed before, figured the chances hover "somewhere betwixt 1% and 'snowball's accidental successful a volcano.'"

At slightest they hold connected something.