Google’s AI architect lived rent-free in Elon Musk’s head

Court testimony and emails show Elon Musk was deeply fixated on Demis Hassabis and Google DeepMind as OpenAI was taking shape.

Musk warned that DeepMind was moving faster, and repeatedly questioned OpenAI’s structure, openness, and urgency in the AI race.

The rivalry with Google helped shape early OpenAI debates over control, open-sourcing, and how to respond to a perceived AI lead.

The reporting underscores how concerns about Hassabis and DeepMind influenced Musk’s thinking during OpenAI’s formative years.