A former engineer at Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has filed a lawsuit in California alleging he was dismissed after raising concerns about the safety risks of the company’s chatbot, Grok.
Devin Kim, who now heads an AI safety-focused think tank, claims he was fired in September 2025 after repeatedly warning that xAI’s approach to safety testing could lead to harmful outcomes, including discrimination and the potential misuse of artificial intelligence systems.
According to the lawsuit, Kim argued that the company failed to prioritize adequate safeguards in the development of its AI products. He also alleged that internal resistance to his proposals created a hostile environment, culminating in his termination shortly before he was scheduled to present on AI safety to leadership.
The complaint accuses xAI and its parent-linked entity, SpaceX, of wrongful termination and retaliation under California law, and seeks unspecified damages.
xAI and SpaceX have not responded to requests for comment.
The case comes amid broader scrutiny of safety practices across Musk-led companies and arrives as SpaceX moves toward a planned initial public offering.
