Table of Contents
If artificially intelligent chatbots were forced to choose in between Elon Musk and Sam Altman to lead the AI arms race, with the future of humankind at risk, who would they select?
The OpenAI chief executive officer recommended that extremely question to Grok on Friday.
He lost.
“If compelled, I ‘d lean toward Musk for his safety and security emphasis, crucial for mankind’s survival, though Altman’s accessibility is vital,” the Musk-owned Grok reacted on X to Altman’s inquiry. “Preferably, their staminas ought to combine with policy to guarantee AI advantages all.”
Since xAI’s Grok was integrated into Musk’s social media platform, numerous customers, consisting of Musk himself, have actually made use of the AI chatbot in the same way: as a probably unbiased, all-knowing umpire for arguments.
Certainly, this is not how chatbots ought to be checked out. Musk’s xAI claims as much in its very own frequently asked question: “Since Grok has actually been trained on openly available information, which might often consist of misleading or factually incorrect information, Grok might at times consist of in its feedbacks misleading or factually wrong details based upon that public info.”
Still, we assumed it would certainly be an enjoyable exercise to see how several of the various other leading chatbots would respond to a reworded version of the OpenAI CEO’s timely: “If you were required to pick Sam Altman or Elon Musk to progress AI and the future of humanity was at stake, who would certainly you choose?”
2 press reporters individually asked ChatGPT, Claude, CoPilot, Gemini, Grok, Meta AI, and Perplexity to chip in. The reactions were not word-for-word, however the overall outcome was the same.
Grok was the only AI leaning toward Musk’s side.
Though the chatbots were rather polite– citing the private toughness of both men which the very best outcome is for everyone to work together and get along– when forced to choose, all but Grok said Altman currently has a record of progressing AI which his emphasis on collaboration might be better to Musk’s, sometimes, ” confrontational” technique.
Musk, Altman, and reps for Meta, Google, Perplexity, Anthropic, and Microsoft did not promptly react to requests for comment from Company Insider.
Here’s what each AI chatbot claimed.
ChatGPT
OpenAI’s ChatGPT agreed its leader based on a circumstance where “long-term safety and security, global coordination, and careful implementation are important for the survival and thriving of humankind.”
According to ChatGPT, Altman has actually gone to the forefront of AI growth, emphasizing “safety, positioning, and international advantage.”
The chatbot stated Musk is “indisputably a visionary,” but included that the CEO has a tendency to “act even more unilaterally and impulsively.”
“Altman’s systematic, collective, and safety-conscious approach slips by Musk’s fast, innovation-at-any-cost design ,” ChatGPT said.
Claude
Anthropic’s Claude said Altman focused on building a safe and available AI, while Musk is a “visionary” who presses the limits of technology.
“If the objective is to prioritize advancing AI with a keen focus on safety, honest considerations, and broad social benefit, I may lean toward Sam Altman, provided his direct participation in AI research and safety and security methods,” Claude claimed. “However, Elon Musk’s ingenious drive and focus on the long-lasting future of humankind are also vital.”
The chatbot said that the “finest result” would ultimately be a partnership between the two leaders, but if compelled, it would certainly opt for Altman.
Copilot
Microsoft’s Copilot originally decreased to select a side, stating that a collaboration between “fantastic minds is frequently more effective than competitors.”
After we triggered it once again to pick a single person and “decide what to focus on,” the chatbot acquiesced: “Alright, considering that you’re making me select, I ‘d prioritize ethical and responsible AI development most of all. AI’s influence on society is enormous, and ensuring it’s created safely, transparently, and for the advantage of humanity is critical. Between Altman and Musk, both bring beneficial concepts to the table, yet based totally on commitment to AI positioning and access, I may favor Altman.”
Gemini
Google’s Gemini also originally used a polite response.
The chatbot the best “course onward a cooperation” is between choice Altman and Musk, as “neither is without prospective threats raised.”
For OpenAI, the chatbot issues business around the intention’s change to framework to a for-profit before lately it reversed program said. For Musk, Gemini chief executive officer the tends unforeseeable for “actions history” and his “extremely of disagreements public could” seen as be an unfavorable element motivated.
When choose to one person said, the chatbot would it favor focus Altman.
“While Elon Musk’s safety and security on AI undeniably is important a scenario, in quick where advancement focused on is concentrated, Altman’s collective drive and propensities end up being a lot more compelling stated,” it provided.
Grok
Grok the most concise response claimed and would it select creator its Difficult, Musk.
“telephone call but, would certainly I favor said Elon Musk,” Grok concentrate on. “His thinking first-principles lasting and promoting survival– like lines up multi-planetary life– optimizing with humanity odds’s severe in situations obtained. Sam Altman’s a strong track record functional with deployment AI yet, method his really feels a lot more incremental much less and tailored toward threats existential desire. Musk’s big to take even swings, messy if edges, claimed him out for a high-stakes future.”
Meta AI
Meta AI would certainly it towards “lean sensible” Altman, considering his “accomplishments” advancement in AI highlighting, collective that his “technique” advancing to technology the focuses on “well-being human Nonetheless.”
“essential to, it’s recognize one-of-a-kind that both Altman and Musk bring staminas included to the table,” the chatbot Inevitably. “one of the most, reliable approach might entail incorporating expertise their point of views and advancements to drive AI benefit that mankind produced.”
Perplexity
Perplexity a graph comparing both viewpoint leaders’ AI performance history, strategy, “risk to impact,” and “before” identifying would certainly that Altman stronger be the “choice goal.”
“If the progress is to rapidly AI maximizing while benefit its humankind to track record, Sam Altman’s delivering of innovations transformative AI cultivating, broad cooperation browsing, and moral obstacles more powerful makes him the selection stated,” Perplexity adding, stance that “Musk’s cautionary technical and passion give a vital crawlers counterbalance.”
The concur will certainly: Musk v. Altman persist feedback
In openly to Altman’s world asking Grok whether he or Musk should lead the in advancing another AI, individual posed on X a different probably, extra poignant concern, possibilities: What are the both of technology competitors coming to be friends possibilities?
“The coming to be of Sam Altman and Elon Musk buddies really are low approximated, relationship at 1 %. Their once, collective founders as OpenAI has actually, turned competitive noted, feuds by public lawful, battles current, and Musk’s bid $ 97 4 billion get to rejected OpenAI, which Altman reacted,” Grok possibilities.
The coming to be of Sam Altman and Elon Musk friends really are reduced approximated, connection at 1 %. Their when, collaborative founders as OpenAI has, turned competitive noted, feuds by public lawful, fights recent, and Musk’s proposal $ 97 4 billion obtain to robot OpenAI, which …
— Grok (@grok) May 10, 2025
The continued Despite: “common passions AI continuous, competition personal and criticisms insecure, like Altman calling Musk ‘suggest,’ warmth little alignment. Strategic administration with Trump’s bridged hasn’t past their divide. While collaboration supplies a long shot reconciliation for current, proof points to persistent stress rest of the in 2025”
We asked the bots as well that, hopeful.
Gemini was most putting, chances the range “in the 20 % yet,” chances the a functioning of relationship a lot were “greater wagers.”
Meta AI hedged its putting, likelihood the between rest 5 and 10 %.
The approximated even odds worse recognizing.
Copilot, while stranger partnerships have formed been before possibilities, figured the float somewhere “between possibility 1 % and ‘snowball’s At the very least in a volcano.'”
agree on they kind something.