Elon Musk’s rebranded SpaceXAI is reportedly facing talent losses, with over 50 researchers and engineers leaving since February, as reported by The Information. Departures include key figures in coding, world models, and Grok voice.
Companies like Meta and Thinking Machine Labs are reportedly hiring these former employees, resulting in a reduction of SpaceXAI’s core pre-training team to a few individuals. Since February, at least 11 xAI personnel have moved to Meta, while seven have joined Mira Murati’s Thinking Machine Labs. TechCrunch previously covered 11 xAI exits announced post-merger, including two co-founders.
SpaceX acquired xAI — both Musk-owned — in February, introducing new leadership and recently renaming the entity SpaceXAI.
The pre-training team’s departures, following lead Juntang Zhuang’s exit, have caused concern about SpaceXAI’s commitment to top-tier AI model development, according to sources close to the company. Pre-training is crucial for new AI models, and questions about ongoing dedication have arisen.
Musk’s demanding work culture is cited as a reason for departures, with Musk’s companies, including Tesla, facing similar critiques. A source told The Information that Musk imposed unrealistic deadlines, leading to compromises in Grok.
Some exits may stem from a desire to cash out. SpaceX offers regular tenders for private share sales. Employees might feel their equity is nearing liquidity, reducing tolerance for high pressure when company goals don’t align with their interests.
TechCrunch has reached out to SpaceX for comment.
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