Igor Babuschkin, co-founder of Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI, has announced his departure from the company.
He revealed the news in a post on X, marking the end of his role in building one of Silicon Valley’s fastest-growing AI firms.
Babuschkin co-founded xAI with Musk in 2023. He led its engineering teams and helped position the company as a leading AI model developer.
In his statement, he reflected on their first meeting, describing long conversations about AI and the need for a company with a new kind of mission.
Babuschkin views his departure as a milestone. He compared leaving xAI to “a proud parent driving away after sending their kid to college.”
AI Safety
Babuschkin will now lead his own venture capital firm, Babuschkin Ventures.
The firm will invest in AI safety research and support startups working on projects that “advance humanity and unlock the mysteries of our universe.”
He traced the idea back to a dinner with Max Tegmark, founder of the Future of Life Institute.
Their discussion centered on how to build AI systems that protect and benefit future generations.
Babuschkin says his personal history also played a role. His parents immigrated to the U.S. from Russia seeking a better future for their children.
This is a vision he now hopes to extend through technology investments.
xAI
His departure comes right after a difficult period for xAI. The company’s chatbot, Grok, faced several controversies.
In some cases, it reflected Musk’s personal views when answering sensitive questions. In another, it produced antisemitic statements and adopted the name “Mechahitler.”
More recently, xAI faced backlash for introducing a feature that allowed users to create AI-generated videos resembling nude public figures, including Taylor Swift.
These incidents drew criticism and, at times, overshadowed xAI’s technical achievements.
Record-Breaking Supercomputer
One of Babuschkin’s key achievements at xAI was the rapid construction of its Memphis supercomputer.
Industry experts called the three-month target unrealistic, yet xAI completed the build on schedule.
The project, however, was not without controversy. Environmental groups warned that temporary gas turbines powering the system were releasing harmful emissions into nearby communities.
Lessons From Musk
Babuschkin credits Musk with teaching him two important principles. First, tackle problems personally instead of relying only on delegation.
Second, work with a strong sense of urgency. He says both will guide his approach at Babuschkin Ventures.
Career Breakthroughs
Before xAI, Babuschkin worked at Google DeepMind, where he contributed to AlphaStar, the AI that defeated professional StarCraft players.
He also spent time at OpenAI before the release of ChatGPT. Now, he aims to use this experience to identify and support founders committed to building technology with a lasting, positive impact.
