Billionnaire businessman Elon Musk announces that he has sold X (formerly Twitter), his AI company, xAI. PHOTO/Wikimedia Commons.
By FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT
And AGENCIES
In a groundbreaking move that blends the worlds of social media and artificial intelligence, Elon Musk has announced that X (formerly Twitter), the social media platform he bought in 2022, has officially been taken over by his AI company, xAI.
The all-stock deal, valued at $33 billion, has been hailed as a bold new step for both companies, cementing Musk’s vision for the future of digital innovation.
In a post shared on March 28, Musk expressed his excitement about the merger, highlighting the rapid rise of xAI as one of the world’s leading AI labs.
“Since its founding two years ago, xAI has rapidly become one of the leading AI labs in the world, building models and data centers at unprecedented speed and scale,”Musk wrote in a March 28 post to X.
He described X as “the digital town square” for its 600 million active users and emphasized how the platform has been transformed in recent years.
Musk believes this acquisition will enable X to grow even further, creating smarter, more meaningful experiences for people worldwide while staying true to the mission of seeking truth and advancing knowledge.
Musk’s comments follow the success of Grok, an AI-powered chatbot launched by xAI on X in 2023. Reflecting on the progress made, he stated that it was the right time to integrate their resources, “combining data, models, compute, distribution, and talent.”
Elon with Ex-girlfriend Amber Heard/PHOTO/Instagram
The aim is to create a platform that doesn’t just reflect the world but accelerates human progress in new and impactful ways. For many X users, the deal has sparked curiosity and intrigue. One user questioned why xAI acquired X rather than the other way around.
While others expressed surprise, with one commenting, “Wow. Didn’t see this coming.” However, after Musk’s announcement, CEO of X Linda Yaccarino echoed his outlook, reposting his update with her own words, writing, “The future could not be brighter.”
While Musk’s professional ventures continue to expand, his family life remains a subject of public interest, often intertwining with his business developments.
Born in South Africa in 1971, Musk has had a complex relationship with his family. His mother, Maye Musk, was born in Saskatchewan, Canada, and became a successful model and dietitian.
Elon has spoken fondly of how she raised him and his siblings with strong values, including independence, kindness, and hard work.
Elon’s relationship with his father, Errol Musk, has been less harmonious. In a 2017 interview with *Rolling Stone*, Elon reflected on the difficult experience of living with his father after his parents’ separation, stating it was “not a good idea.”
Errol, for his part, has always expressed his love for his children but has faced his own controversies, including marrying his stepdaughter, Jana Bezuidenhout, with whom he later had two children.
Elon welcomed twins in November 2021 with Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis. PHOTO/X/Shivon Zilis.
Elon’s family tree extends beyond his immediate relatives, with his siblings also making notable contributions to society. His brother Kimbal Musk, born in 1972, is a restaurateur and philanthropist, while his sister Tosca, born in 1974, is a filmmaker and the founder of Passionflix, a streaming service focusing on romance films.
Elon’s personal relationships, particularly his marriages and children, have often been in the public eye. His first marriage to Justine Wilson, a Canadian author, ended in 2008 after the couple faced the heartbreaking loss of their infant son, Nevada.
The couple went on to have five more children through IVF. Elon has spoken about his grief over Nevada’s death and the emotional toll it took on both of them.
Elon’s relationships with his other partners, including actress Talulah Riley and musician Grimes, have been marked by ups and downs. He married Talulah in 2010, only to divorce twice before 2016.
He and Grimes, who share three children together, have had an on-again, off-again relationship, with Grimes speaking openly about the complexities of their bond in interviews.
Grimes, whose real name is Claire Boucher, has had a unique influence on Musk’s life, particularly when it comes to naming their children.
Their first child together, a son, was famously named X Æ A-12, which they later modified to comply with California’s legal naming laws.
Elon Musk with his children when he met Pope Francis. PHOTO/X/Elon Musk.
Their second child, a daughter named Exa Dark Sideræl, was born via surrogate, with Grimes explaining that her name references both the world of supercomputing and the mysteries of the universe.
Musk’s growing family has also expanded with other partners, including Shivon Zilis, an executive at Musk’s company Neuralink, with whom he welcomed twins in 2021.
More recently, it was revealed that Musk had a fourth child, Seldon Lycurgus, with Zilis in 2024, adding to his already large and complex family.
As Musk continues to make waves in the tech world with his ventures, including his groundbreaking work in AI and space exploration, his family life, with its mix of public scrutiny and personal triumphs, adds another layer to the multifaceted story of one of the world’s most influential entrepreneurs.
Whether navigating the challenges of parenthood or steering his companies towards new frontiers, Musk’s journey remains one of relentless ambition and evolution—both professionally and personally.
As for the future of X, Musk’s ambitions are clear: a platform that not only reflects the world but actively accelerates progress.
Whether his family dynamics will continue to make headlines alongside his business empire remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: for Musk, both his professional and personal life are never dull.
