Former xAI engineer sues company over wrongful termination after raising Grok safety concerns
Devin Kim alleges he was fired just before presenting AI safety evidence to leadership, filing suit against both xAI and SpaceX days before the company's anticipated IPO
Former xAI engineer Devin Kim sued xAI and SpaceX, alleging he was fired after repeatedly raising safety concerns about Grok.
The lawsuit, filed in California state court, claims Kim pushed for stronger guardrails around xAI’s chatbot and became a target for company leadership. Kim joined xAI in March 2024 and was fired in September 2025, according to the complaint.
Kim alleges the timing was not accidental. The lawsuit says he was terminated by xAI co-founder Jimmy Ba shortly before he was scheduled to present AI safety concerns directly to company leaders.
The complaint says Kim warned that xAI’s failure to prioritize safety around Grok could lead to unlawful outcomes, including discrimination and the spread of dangerous information. The lawsuit seeks damages for alleged retaliation and wrongful termination.
The case arrives at a sensitive moment for Elon Musk’s companies. xAI is now part of SpaceX, which is preparing for a planned public listing that could become one of the largest IPOs on record.
Kim has since become president of the Center for AI Safety, a nonprofit focused on risks from advanced AI systems. The group announced his appointment earlier this month.