Elon Musk says his artificial intelligence startup, xAI, could reach artificial general intelligence (AGI) within the next two years. He founded xAI in 2023, and the company has moved aggressively to challenge industry leaders such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta.
AGI—AI capable of human-level reasoning—remains the industry’s most elusive goal. Musk now argues that xAI is closer than many expect.
Musk Revises AGI Timeline at xAI Meeting
According to Business Insider, Musk shared his updated AGI forecast during an all-hands meeting at xAI’s San Francisco headquarters. He told employees the company could achieve AGI as early as 2026.
Previously, Musk said the upcoming Grok 5 model had a 10 percent chance of reaching AGI. xAI plans to release Grok 5 in early 2026, aligning directly with Musk’s new timeline.
Musk acknowledged that achieving AGI will require intense internal effort. Still, he maintained that success would allow xAI to surpass human intelligence and dominate the AI sector.
xAI Positions Itself Against Big Tech Rivals
Musk framed the next two years as a make-or-break period for xAI. He argued that if the company survives and scales quickly, it can outpace entrenched competitors like OpenAI, Google, and Meta.
He emphasized two decisive advantages: funding and infrastructure. Musk reportedly told staff that xAI could access between $20 billion and $30 billion in annual funding, bolstered by close ties to his other businesses. Tesla has already integrated Grok into its vehicles, reinforcing xAI’s reach.
Massive GPU Expansion Signals Aggressive Scale-Up
To support this push, Musk announced plans to expand xAI’s GPU count from roughly 200,000 to more than one million. The move signals an all-in bet on compute-heavy AI development and rapid scaling.
Employees reportedly welcomed the announcement, reflecting confidence in Musk’s strategy.
Why Musk’s Bet Matters
Musk’s claim is bold—and controversial. While many AI leaders urge caution around AGI timelines, Musk continues to push faster, harder, and with fewer restraints. If xAI delivers, it could redefine the AI power structure. If it fails, it will reinforce skepticism around ambitious AGI promises.
Either way, Musk has forced the conversation forward—and the AI race just accelerated.