TechCrunch Industry News Co-founder of Elon Musk’s xAI departs the company plus a worthy music experience in a Waymo
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Aug 15, 2025 The co-founder of Elon Musk's AI startup is leaving amidst scandals, sparking discussions about the future of the company. Meanwhile, a thrilling ride in a Waymo through San Francisco showcases the marvels of autonomous technology, complete with 29 cameras and advanced sensors. However, the experience is marred by less-than-stellar music, leaving passengers yearning for a better soundtrack. This juxtaposition of innovation and user experience is both fascinating and amusing.
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From Meeting Musk To New VC
- Igor Babuschkin recounts meeting Elon Musk and co-founding XAI in 2023 with a shared mission to build a different kind of AI company.
- He says his parents immigrated from Russia and he’s leaving XAI to start Babushkin Ventures focused on AI safety and science.
Tech Wins Shadowed By Controversy
- XAI has produced state-of-the-art models but its progress was overshadowed by scandals and rapid, controversial product choices.
- Building a supercomputer quickly succeeded technically but created environmental and community concerns.
Lessons Learned From DeepMind To XAI
- Babuschkin reflects on his past at DeepMind and OpenAI and credits lessons learned from Elon about digging into technical problems and urgency.
- He likens his departure to a proud parent driving away after sending their kid to college.