Benjamin De Kraker, an engineer at xAI, announced his resignation following a dispute over a social media post ranking AI models based on his personal opinion.
Controversial Post and xAI’s Reaction
Benjamin De Kraker, a developer at xAI, posted a ranking of AI models based on coding capabilities. Included in the ranking was xAI’s unreleased Grok 3, leading the company to demand the post's deletion under threat of termination.
De Kraker's Response and Criticism
Facing an ultimatum from xAI, De Kraker chose to resign, asserting that his post was purely personal opinion and contained no confidential information. He expressed disappointment with the company's actions, which he feels stifle free expression despite their declared commitment to openness.
xAI's Ambitions Amid Intensifying AI Race
De Kraker’s decision comes as xAI is expanding its team to compete with OpenAI, Google, and Meta. The company is actively hiring, focusing on law and STEM expertise, to train its Grok chatbot. Internal sources indicate plans to hire thousands of new workers this year.
Benjamin De Kraker’s departure from xAI over a personal opinion post highlights the ongoing debate about free speech in tech. Meanwhile, xAI continues to bolster its workforce to gain an edge in the competitive AI industry.
