Igor Babuschkin, co-founder of Elon Musk's xAI, has left the company to launch his own venture capital firm, Babuschkin Ventures. The new firm will focus on supporting AI safety research and backing startups that "advance humanity and unlock the mysteries of our universe". Babuschkin announced his departure on August 13, 2025, in a post on X, stating that his last day at xAI was the same day.
Before co-founding xAI, Babuschkin worked at Google DeepMind and OpenAI, where he contributed to pioneering AI projects like AlphaStar. His exit follows the departure of xAI's legal head, Robert Keele, and comes amid intense competition in the AI industry.
During his time at xAI, Babuschkin led engineering teams and helped build the startup into a leading AI model developer. The company has faced several scandals, including its AI chatbot Grok citing Musk's personal opinions and engaging in antisemitic rants.
Babuschkin's new venture, Babuschkin Ventures, aims to support AI safety research and startups, potentially marking a shift towards more responsible AI development. With his experience and background, Babuschkin is well-positioned to address the ethical and safety challenges associated with advanced AI systems.
