Musk Testifies About Falling Out with Google's Page Over AI Safety

In the ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI, Elon Musk shared details of a rift with Larry Page, co-founder of Google, regarding the dangers of artificial intelligence. Musk stated that when he expressed concerns about AI potentially threatening humanity, Page dismissed his worries, suggesting it was acceptable as long as AI persisted. Page labeled Musk a 'speciest' for his pro-human stance. Once close friends, they were recognized by Fortune in 2016 as among the top secret business allies, with Musk often visiting Page's residence in Palo Alto. Their friendship deteriorated after Musk enlisted Google AI expert Ilya Sutskever to help establish OpenAI in 2015, which Page viewed as a betrayal. Although Musk had previously shared this account with author Walter Isaacson, it was his first time doing so under oath. Page has yet to respond. In 2023, Musk expressed a desire to mend their relationship during a conversation with podcaster Lex Fridman, stating, "We were friends for a very long time."