Elon Musk confirms xAI used OpenAI models to train Grok during court testimony

Apr 30, 2026

AI Summary

Elon Musk testified that his company xAI employed distillation techniques on OpenAI models to develop its AI, Grok. This admission comes amid Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging a breach of its original nonprofit mission. The practice of distillation raises concerns for major AI firms as it allows competitors to create comparable models at lower costs.

Elon Musk testified in a California federal court that xAI used distillation techniques on OpenAI models to train Grok, stating it is a common practice among AI companies. Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI alleges that the company shifted away from its original nonprofit mission.
Distillation allows companies to create AI models that rival those of larger firms at reduced costs, posing a threat to established AI giants.
Musk's xAI, founded in 2023, aims to learn from leading AI companies, although the legality of distillation is uncertain and may violate terms of service.
OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google have initiated efforts to combat distillation practices, particularly from Chinese firms, by preventing mass queries that could reveal model workings.
During his testimony, Musk ranked AI providers, placing Anthropic first, followed by OpenAI, Google, and Chinese open-source models, while noting that xAI is a smaller company with a few hundred employees.

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Elon Musk confirms xAI used OpenAI models to train Grok during court testimony

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