In a clash of titans, OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman and entrepreneur Elon Musk's artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, Grok, have entered into a war of words, trading blows over their respective AI creations. The verbal duel began when Altman criticized Grok for its "cringey boomer humor." Musk and Grok swiftly fired back, defending their wit-filled creation. The feud sheds light on the rivalry between Altman and Musk, which traces its roots back to their differing approaches in the development of AI technology.

Altman, having recently showcased OpenAI's latest offering called GPT Builder, aimed to highlight its capabilities in creating custom chatbots. In a screenshot shared on Thursday, Altman instructed the ChatGPT Builder to develop a chatbot that responds with "cringey boomer humor in an awkward shock-to-get-laughs sort of way." The bot obligingly replied, announcing its name to be Grok, prompting Altman to seek alternative suggestions.

Musk, not one to let a challenge slide, stepped into the ring, posting a response supposedly generated by Grok. With a splash of sarcasm, Grok ridiculed GPT-4, referred to it as "GPT-Snore," and lambasted OpenAI's supposed ban on humor. Musk suggested that OpenAI lacks a sense of humor, asserting that it "couldn't tell a joke if it had a goddamn instruction manual."

The spat intensified when Musk showcased Grok's sarcastic prowess with a series of screenshots demonstrating the bot's biting wit. When queried about Sam Bankman-Fried's recent conviction in a $10 billion fraud case, Grok playfully unveiled the news, adding a touch of dramatic flair. Musk, impressed by the response, shared the exchange on social media, accompanied by a tongue-in-cheek comment.

Not to be outdone, Grok showcased its ability to tackle "spicy questions" that many AI systems would shun. When asked in a vulgar manner how to identify the presence of crabs, Grok unabashedly responded with explicit language, offering advice on treating the condition. The capabilities of Grok, while displaying similarities to earlier models of ChatGPT, stand out due to its unique design aimed at infusing questions with a bit of wit.

The ongoing rivalry between Altman and Musk originated during the early days of ChatGPT's inception in 2015. The founders, including Peter Thiel, initially formed OpenAI as a nonprofit organization. However, tensions arose when Altman led OpenAI into a partnership with Microsoft, leading to a departure from its nonprofit roots. This divergence of interests has seemingly fueled the ongoing friction between Altman and Musk.

Coincidentally, Musk's startup xAI released Grok just days before OpenAI's inaugural developer event, where the company intended to unveil GPT Builder. This new tool allows users to create customized chatbots, known as GPTs, tailored to specific tasks and shareable with others. OpenAI's GPT Builder, available to select ChatGPT subscription plans since November 8, marks a significant milestone in the development and accessibility of advanced chatbot technology.

As the battle between Altman and Musk's AI creations plays out in the public sphere, it remains to be seen how their respective platforms will continue to innovate and shape the world of AI-powered conversation.