In another episode of their ongoing feud, Elon Musk and Meta's leading AI scientist, Yann LeCun, engaged in a heated exchange on X, with LeCun mocking Musk's recent attempt to recruit AI workers for his $24 billion firm xAI. The dispute between the tech rivals escalated following xAI's announcement of raising $6 billion in a Series B funding round.

On Monday, Musk took to X to call for tech workers to join his company, emphasizing xAI's mission of understanding the universe through a rigorous pursuit of truth, independent of popularity or political correctness. However, LeCun wasted no time in responding to Musk's post, taking aim at his previous statements and behavior.

LeCun highlighted Musk's claim that artificial general intelligence would be achieved by next year, as well as his assertion that AI poses a 10-20% risk of annihilating humanity. With a hint of sarcasm, LeCun suggested that those who could handle a boss who constantly predicts quick solutions or advocates for work to be stopped for extended breaks should consider joining xAI. He also criticized Musk for espousing conspiracy theories while professing a commitment to truth, taking a swipe at Musk's claims of being a free-speech absolutist and his sharing of unverified claims on X.

This is not the first clash between Musk and LeCun, as they have sparred online since at least 2017, demonstrating their contrasting views on AI. In March, LeCun challenged Musk's prediction that AI would surpass human intelligence by next year, undermining Musk's credibility as an authority on the subject.

Interestingly, xAI's only product at present is a chatbot named Grok, trained using data from Twitter (now called X), which includes Musk's own posts. The reference to this fact may hint at LeCun's skepticism towards xAI's progress and the influence of Musk's ideas on its development.

Elon Musk has yet to respond to Business Insider's request for comment on the matter, leaving the controversy unresolved for now. However, given the history between Musk and LeCun, it is likely that this latest spat will not be the end of their ongoing debate.

As the AI field continues to advance, the clash between these prominent figures serves as a reminder of the divergent perspectives within the industry and the challenges that lie ahead in harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence.