Musk Called OpenAI Exec a 'Jackass' Over AI Safety Clash

An OpenAI executive testified about a "tense exchange" with Elon Musk in 2018. Joshua Achiam told a jury that Musk called him a "jackass." This happened during a company meeting, where they clashed over AI safety. Achiam and colleagues were concerned about Musk's desire to "race towards AGI," or artificial general intelligence, which they felt was a "reckless" approach. Achiam stated he believed Musk was upset about being challenged. After the exchange, his colleagues gifted him a gold "jackass" trophy. The trophy had an inscription: "Never stop being a jackass for safety." This testimony came during the Musk v. Altman trial. It highlights ongoing disagreements about the speed and safety of AI development.