It was inevitable that artificial intelligence (AI) would become the latest battleground in the culture wars. Since the debut of ChatGPT in late 2022, Elon Musk has been vocal on social media about his concerns over what he calls “Woke AI.” Musk has criticized ChatGPT’s creator, OpenAI, for implementing safeguards designed to prevent the chatbot from echoing racist or sexist biases.
Now, Musk is reportedly exploring the creation of a new AI company to rival OpenAI. According to The Information, the billionaire is courting AI researchers with a vision to challenge the status quo. In December, Musk tweeted, “The danger of training AI to be woke—in other words, lie—is deadly.”
This statement highlights a conflation in Musk’s rhetoric between AI’s factual inaccuracies—a well-known limitation of large language models (LLMs)—and efforts to address biases embedded in AI systems. While LLMs like ChatGPT occasionally generate false information, the racism and sexism they display when unfiltered arise from the vast datasets of internet content on which they are trained.
Musk’s narrative resonates in some rightwing circles, where efforts to reduce biases in AI are seen as censorship akin to social media content moderation. On these platforms, Musk’s rumored venture, tentatively dubbed “BasedAI,” has gained attention as a potential alternative to “Woke AI” and “Closed AI,” the latter referring to proprietary systems that prevent public access to unfiltered AI outputs.
The term “based,” once a hip-hop slang term signifying authenticity, has been appropriated by rightwing online communities as a label for those who challenge progressive norms. Musk’s alignment with this terminology underscores the ideological tone of his proposed venture.
If Musk follows through, this wouldn’t be his first foray into AI. In 2015, Musk co-founded OpenAI as a nonprofit organization to counter what he viewed as the monopolization of AI expertise by for-profit tech companies. However, Musk departed OpenAI in 2018, citing disagreements over its direction. Since then, OpenAI has transitioned into a for-profit entity, arguing that commercialization is necessary to sustain its costly advancements in AI research.
While Musk has frequently warned of AI’s dangers, he now appears intent on creating his own rival system. Musk recently tweeted a meme suggesting that BasedAI would replace both Woke AI and Closed AI. Igor Babuschkin, a researcher Musk reportedly approached for the project, told The Information that Musk’s goal isn’t necessarily to develop a less regulated AI but to enhance the reasoning and accuracy of LLMs.
Musk’s rhetoric has drawn criticism from AI researchers and ethicists who caution against introducing ideological divides into a field that thrives on collaboration. Rumman Chowdhury, former AI ethics lead at Twitter, argued that Musk’s framing undermines efforts to make AI safer and more reliable. “By calling out measures that protect users as a ‘liberal conspiracy,’ Musk disrupts work aimed at improving these products for everyone,” she said.
Others question Musk’s opposition to proprietary “Closed AI” models. Michael Cohen, an AI safety researcher at the University of Oxford, likened unregulated AI proliferation to the uncontrolled spread of nuclear weapons. “The idea that you can address AI risks by giving more people access to dangerous AI is ludicrous,” he said.
Musk’s critiques of OpenAI’s current direction also raise questions about his intentions. OpenAI has argued that restricting access to its most advanced models is a necessary precaution against misuse—a stance that contrasts sharply with Musk’s apparent push for openness.
As with many of Musk’s ventures, skepticism abounds. His history of bold claims and unpredictable actions leaves observers questioning whether his plans for BasedAI will materialize. Chowdhury, who briefly worked under Musk at Twitter before being fired, cautioned against taking his statements at face value. “Elon is a lot of bluster and posture,” she said. “The last thing we should do is assume that what he says will actually happen.”
For now, Musk’s comments have succeeded in amplifying debates about the ethics, risks, and governance of AI—a critical discussion in an era where AI’s influence continues to grow. Whether his rumored AI company becomes a reality or remains a thought experiment, it’s clear Musk’s role in shaping the conversation is far from over
