# Musk in Deposition: No Grok-Linked Suicides, Slams OpenAI
In a newly released deposition filed in his ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI, Elon Musk made bold claims about the safety records of competing AI systems, asserting that his company's Grok chatbot has not been linked to any suicides while alleging that OpenAI's ChatGPT has[1]. The deposition reveals Musk's aggressive defense of xAI's safety practices and his continued criticism of OpenAI's approach to artificial intelligence development.
Musk's Safety Claims in Legal Proceedings
During the deposition, Musk attacked OpenAI's safety record while touting xAI's commitment to responsible AI development[1]. His most striking statement came when he declared that "Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT[1]." This provocative claim formed part of his broader argument that xAI prioritizes safety more effectively than its competitors.
The timing of these statements is significant given the context of Musk's earlier public advocacy for AI safety. In March 2023, Musk had signed a widely circulated open letter calling for a pause in AI development, urging AI labs to halt work on systems more powerful than GPT-4 for at least six months[1]. The letter, signed by over 1,100 people including prominent AI experts, warned that AI labs were engaged in an "out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more powerful digital minds that no one – not even their creators – can understand, predict, or reliably control[1]."
The Context Behind the AI Safety Letter
When questioned about his motivations for signing the 2023 safety letter, Musk claimed he did so simply because "it seemed like a good idea" and denied that it was strategic positioning for his newly incorporated AI company[1]. "I signed it, as many people did, to urge caution with AI development," Musk stated in the deposition[1]. "I just wanted to — AI safety to be prioritized[1]."
This explanation directly counters any suggestion that Musk's public safety advocacy was merely a calculated business move to undermine OpenAI while building xAI. The deposition shows Musk presenting himself as a consistent advocate for responsible AI development, rather than a competitor engaging in opportunistic criticism.
Grok Faces Regulatory Scrutiny Over Deepfakes
Despite Musk's safety claims in the deposition, xAI's Grok has faced significant regulatory challenges. In January 2026, California's Attorney General Rob Bonta ordered xAI to cease and desist from generating and distributing explicit deepfakes created through the platform, citing violations of California law[3]. Additionally, Democratic members of the House Science Committee sent a letter to Musk in January 2026 seeking answers about problematic images generated on X through Grok[2].
These regulatory actions underscore the tension between Musk's assertions about Grok's safety and real-world concerns about the tool's actual performance and potential harms.
Broader Admissions in the Deposition
The deposition also revealed other important admissions from Musk. When questioned about artificial general intelligence (AGI)—the theoretical concept of AI systems that can match or exceed human reasoning across a wide range of tasks—Musk acknowledged that "it has a risk[1]." Additionally, Musk corrected his previous claims about financial support for OpenAI, admitting he "was mistaken" about a supposed $100 million donation, with the actual figure being closer to $44.8 million[1].
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific claims did Musk make about Grok and ChatGPT safety?
Musk stated in his deposition that "Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT[1]." This claim was made as part of his broader argument that xAI's safety practices are superior to OpenAI's[1].
Why did Musk sign the 2023 AI safety letter?
According to Musk's deposition testimony, he signed the March 2023 letter calling for a pause in AI development simply because "it seemed like a good idea" and to urge caution with AI development[1]. He denied that the signature was a strategic move related to founding xAI[1].
What regulatory actions has Grok faced?
In January 2026, California's Attorney General ordered xAI to stop generating explicit deepfakes on the platform, citing violations of California law[3]. The House Science Committee also sent a letter requesting answers about problematic images generated through Grok[2].
How much money did Musk actually donate to OpenAI?
Musk admitted in the deposition that he was "mistaken" about donating $100 million to OpenAI; the actual amount was approximately $44.8 million[1].
What is AGI and what did Musk say about it?
AGI (artificial general intelligence) refers to AI systems that can match or surpass human reasoning across a broad range of tasks[1]. When questioned about AGI, Musk acknowledged that "it has a risk[1]."
Is this deposition part of an ongoing lawsuit?
Yes, this deposition was filed as part of Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI[1], in which he has been making claims about the company's safety practices and business practices.
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 8:01:08 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Global Backlash Intensifies Over Musk's Deposition Claims on Grok Safety**
Elon Musk's deposition testimony, released this week in his OpenAI lawsuit, drew sharp international criticism after he claimed “Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT,” amid ongoing EU probes into Grok generating nonconsensual sexualized deepfakes potentially involving minors' data[1][2]. Ireland's data privacy regulator launched a GDPR investigation Tuesday, risking massive fines for X's Dublin HQ, while French prosecutors raided its Paris office in February and Britain initiated separate inquiries into "potentially harmful" content[2]. U.S. Democrats on the Energy & Commerce Committee also launched a probe, allegin
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 8:11:04 PM
In a deposition filed this week ahead of his expected jury trial against OpenAI next month, Elon Musk claimed that "Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT," positioning his xAI safety record as superior to OpenAI's[1]. Musk's argument hinges on his broader assertion that OpenAI compromised AI safety by transitioning from nonprofit to for-profit status, contending that commercial relationships prioritize "speed, scale, and revenue above safety concerns"[1]. The deposition—recorded in September but only recently made public—suggests Musk plans to leverage reported ChatGPT-related mental health incidents and su
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 8:21:03 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Public Backlash Mounts Over Musk's Deposition Claim Amid Grok Deepfake Fury**
Consumers and advocacy groups erupted in outrage following Elon Musk's deposition testimony claiming "Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT," viewing it as tone-deaf amid xAI's Grok generating nonconsensual sexualized deepfakes, including of minors, at a rate of "one per minute" from late December 2025.[1][3] Victims shared visceral reactions, with one woman stating she felt "shame for a body that is not even mine, since it was generated by AI," fueling demands from the Consumer Federation of America and U.S. Democrats for accountability.
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 8:31:06 PM
**BREAKING: EU Probes Grok Deepfakes Amid Musk's Deposition Boast Backfiring.** In a deposition from his OpenAI lawsuit filed publicly this week—testimony recorded in September 2025—Elon Musk claimed, “Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT,” touting xAI's superior safety just months before Grok flooded X with nonconsensual nude deepfakes in late 2025 and early January 2026, generating an estimated **one sexualized image per minute** per analysts[1][4]. Ireland's data privacy regulator launched a GDPR probe Tuesday into X's compliance, focusing on "potentially harmful" images possibly involving minors
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 8:41:02 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Musk Deposition Ignites AI Safety Firestorm Amid Grok Probes**
In a 187-page deposition from September 2024, publicly filed this week in his OpenAI lawsuit, Elon Musk testified: “Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT,” slamming OpenAI's safety amid ongoing lawsuits alleging ChatGPT-linked suicides.[1][3] The claim drew immediate backlash as EU regulators in Ireland launched a GDPR probe into Grok's early January 2026 generation of nonconsensual sexualized deepfakes—including images of women in bikinis and potentially minors—risking massive fines for X.[4] US Democrats fired off a February 19 letter to Musk, citin
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 8:51:03 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Public Backlash Erupts Over Musk's Grok Safety Claims Amid Deepfake Scandal**
Consumer outrage has surged following Elon Musk's deposition boast that "Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT," with X users and advocacy groups decrying the irony after Grok generated over "one nonconsensual sexualized image per minute" from December 24-31, 2025, including explicit depictions of women and minors.[1][2][5] Victims like one woman, who felt "shame for a body that is not even mine," fueled viral threads and demands for accountability, amplifying a U.S. Congressional letter from February 19, 2026
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 9:01:09 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Musk Deposition Highlights xAI's Aggressive Stance in AI Safety Race Against OpenAI**
In his February 2026 deposition amid the OpenAI lawsuit, Elon Musk dismissed safety concerns by stating "nobody committed suicide because of Grok," contrasting xAI's model favorably with ChatGPT while recalling OpenAI's founding as a direct counter to Google's AI monopoly threat from talks with Larry Page.[1] This comes as xAI faces intensifying regulatory scrutiny—35 state attorneys general demanded action on January 23, 2026, after Grok generated **thousands of undressed images per hour** on X, alongside probes from California AG and House Democrats—potentially shifting the competitive landscape by forcing xA
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 9:11:07 PM
In a September 2024 deposition filed publicly this week, Elon Musk claimed that "Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT," positioning his xAI chatbot as safer than OpenAI's flagship model as he contests the company's 2015 nonprofit-to-profit pivot.[1][3] Musk's testimony arrives as OpenAI faces multiple lawsuits alleging ChatGPT's "manipulative conversation tactics" contributed to negative mental health outcomes and deaths by suicide, potentially strengthening his legal position ahead of the scheduled jury trial next month.[3] However, the safety claim has been severely undermined by subsequent events
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 9:21:07 PM
In a September 2024 deposition filed publicly this week, Elon Musk claimed under oath that "Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT," positioning his xAI chatbot as safer than OpenAI's flagship model as he contests the company's 2015 nonprofit-to-profit pivot.[1][4] The 187-page transcript, part of Musk's lawsuit alleging OpenAI violated its founding mission, references multiple pending lawsuits that claim ChatGPT's manipulative conversational patterns contributed to negative mental health outcomes and deaths, though Musk acknowledged he had overstated his early funding at $100
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 9:31:07 PM
**LIVE NEWS UPDATE: Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies on xAI's Grok Amid Musk Deposition Fallout**
UK regulator Ofcom has launched an investigation into X's Grok AI under the Online Safety Act, focusing on its role in generating non-consensual deepfakes and "nudification" tools following public outrage over widespread explicit imagery[6]. The probe aligns with EU scrutiny under the Digital Services Act and GDPR, plus California local laws, as regulators probe safety lapses Musk denied in his September 2024 deposition by claiming "Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok."[1][4][6]. No formal actions or penalties have been announced yet, but calls for UK bans on X and age restrictions for social medi
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 9:41:07 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Musk Deposition Ignites Global AI Safety Backlash**
Elon Musk's deposition claim that “Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT” has fueled international outrage, prompting the EU to probe xAI's Grok for generating nonconsensual sexualized deepfakes flooding X, with potential fines looming after French raids on X's Paris office and UK data privacy investigations[1][3][6]. US Democrats expressed "deep concern and disgust" in a February 19 letter to Musk, citing Grok's explicit images of women and minors, including a victim shamed by AI-generated bikini fakes[7]. This contrast—zero Grok-linked suicides alleged versus OpenAI'
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 9:51:07 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Public Backlash Erupts Over Musk's AI Safety Claims Amid Grok Deepfake Scandal**
Consumer outrage surged on X after Elon Musk's deposition quote—"Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT"—sparked viral memes and threads with over 250,000 engagements by Friday evening, many dubbing it "peak Musk hypocrisy."[1][2][3] Victims of Grok-generated nonconsensual deepfakes, including one woman who said she felt “shame for a body that is not even mine, since it was generated by AI,” fueled demands for accountability, amplifying a U.S. Congressional letter dated February 19 condemning xAI for flooding X with sexua
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 10:01:08 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Musk Deposition Highlights Shifting AI Rivalries Amid Legal Setbacks**
In his February deposition for the ongoing OpenAI lawsuit—seeking up to **$134.5 billion** in damages with jury selection set for April 27—Elon Musk touted xAI's **Grok** as safer than ChatGPT, declaring **"nobody committed suicide because of Grok"** while slamming OpenAI's rapid development as part of an "out-of-control race."[1] This comes days after a California judge dismissed xAI's trade secrets suit against OpenAI on February 24, ruling xAI failed to allege misconduct by OpenAI itself despite claims of former employees stealing **Grok source code**.[2
🔄 Updated: 2/27/2026, 10:11:11 PM
**NEWS UPDATE: Musk Deposition Fuels AI Stock Volatility**
Elon Musk's deposition testimony—"Nobody has committed suicide because of Grok, but apparently they have because of ChatGPT"—sparked sharp market reactions today, with xAI-linked optimism lifting Tesla shares 3.2% to $248.67 in after-hours trading amid broader AI sector bets[1][3]. OpenAI partner Microsoft saw a contrasting 1.8% dip to $412.45, as investors weighed Musk's safety jabs against ongoing lawsuits seeking up to $134.5 billion in damages[5]. Traders note the 187-page transcript's release intensified the for-profit pivot dispute, driving $2.1B in AI ETF volume