Elon Musk's startup, xAI, is reportedly seeking a substantial funding round of up to $6 billion, with a proposed valuation of $20 billion, as it aims to revolutionize the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape. This move indicates Musk's ambition to establish a significant presence in the AI domain, potentially competing with established players like OpenAI.

Sources familiar with the matter have revealed that xAI is in discussions with family offices in Hong Kong and is strategically targeting sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East for the funding initiative. This reported funding drive represents a significant development in the ongoing AI race, with various investors making substantial investments in startups aiming to capitalize on the growing interest in AI technology, particularly in Silicon Valley.

The potential $6 billion fundraise surpasses xAI's initial goal, as the company had previously set a target of $1 billion in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last month. While a $20 billion valuation for xAI would still be smaller than OpenAI's valuation, it aligns with other industry players, such as Anthropic, backed by Google.

Elon Musk has reportedly reached out to investors in Japan and South Korea to garner support for the fundraising initiative, with Morgan Stanley coordinating the effort. Musk refuted claims last week that xAI had already secured $500 million in commitments from investors toward a $1 billion funding goal.

xAI, founded by Musk, gained attention with the launch of "Grok," a chatbot positioned as a competitor to OpenAI's ChatGPT. Musk has consistently emphasized the importance of responsible AI development and recently expressed caution against advancing AI and robotics outside Tesla unless he gains more voting control within the company.

The flourishing popularity of ChatGPT has contributed to the buoyancy of the AI industry, with players like Anthropic and Microsoft-backed Inflection AI also securing funding in recent months. Musk's foray into AI with xAI is positioned to intensify competition in this rapidly evolving sector. Elon Musk's xAI Pursues $6 Billion Funding to Challenge OpenAI Dominance.