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Or sign-in if you have an account.The xAI unit was at the centre of SpaceX's IPO roadshow, with Elon Musk touting AI satellites, data centres and a frontier lab that will help him create a vertically integrated AI conglomerate. Photo by LIONEL BONAVENTURE/AFP via Getty ImagesA former artificial intelligence engineer at Elon Musk’s xAI is suing the company, alleging that he was wrongfully fired for raising concerns about the safety of the firm’s Grok chatbot.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorIn a lawsuit filed in California state court, Devin Kim claimed he repeatedly complained to his supervisors that the company was failing to prioritize safety while developing Grok. Kim says he was fired in September 2025, ahead of a planned presentation to xAI leadership about safety issues.Kim’s claims come months after a global uproar over widespread usage of Grok to digitally undress people. Since then, regulators across Europe have sought to place limits on Grok. Some consumers, including influencer Ashley St. Clair, the mother of one of Musk’s children, have sued the xAI.Breaking business news, incisive views, must-reads and market signals. Weekdays by 9 a.m.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Posthaste will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againThe company said in January that it disabled Grok’s ability to create sexualized images of real people and that it was “committed to making X a safe platform for everyone.”In his suit, Kim said that, while working on a project, he found that Grok “tended to discriminate against certain racial groups while favouring others.” He said he flagged the observation to his supervisors in various reports. Kim said he was also concerned that Grok could give users guidance on bomb-making or creating bioweapons.“Mr. Kim believed that xAI’s disregard for AI safety was unlawful,” his lawyers said in the lawsuit. Noting the undressing scandal, they added, “Mr. Kim’s concerns about xAI’s model were not only well-grounded but proved remarkably prescient.”The complaint also names SpaceX, xAI’s parent company, which is set to have its blockbuster initial public offering on Friday. The AI unit was at the centre of the IPO’s roadshow, with Musk touting AI satellites, data centres and a frontier lab that will help him create a vertically integrated AI conglomerate.Neither xAI nor SpaceX immediately responded to requests for comment on Kim’s suit.Before joining xAI, Kim, who previously worked at Scale AI, claims that he spoke about AI safety with executives. During those conversations, Kim said he “highlighted the risks associated with rapidly advancing AI capabilities, and sought to understand xAI’s approach to safety and risk mitigation.”But once he was at xAI, Kim claims his supervisor, co-founder Jimmy Ba, was dismissive of safety concerns. According to Kim, Ba didn’t follow safety directives issued by Musk.“AI will kill us all anyway,” Ba allegedly said. Kim says it was Ba who fired him.Ba, who didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment, exited the firm in February following its merger with SpaceX. Since then, all of xAI’s founding members except Musk have left along with dozens of engineers and specialists. Musk has since brought over staff from SpaceX’s Starlink unit.—With assistance from Dana Hull. Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.