Another co-founder is exiting Elon Musk's xAI

March 26, 2026 - 04:52

Manuel Kroiss, a pivotal figure among the original engineers who launched artificial intelligence startup xAI alongside Elon Musk in 2023, has exited the company. His departure marks a significant shift within the firm's founding team.

Kroiss was one of just eleven engineers who collaborated with Musk to establish the venture, which was created to compete with leading AI labs like OpenAI. His exit brings the total number of co-founder departures from xAI to ten, indicating nearly a complete turnover of the initial core technical team since its inception.

The reasons behind Kroiss's decision to leave have not been publicly disclosed. This wave of departures raises questions about the internal dynamics and long-term strategy of the ambitious AI project. Despite these high-profile exits, xAI continues its operations, having recently made headlines for securing significant investment and releasing its first generative AI model to a select user group. The company's ability to retain top talent and maintain its original vision remains a focal point for industry observers.