xAI, the artificial intelligence startup founded by Elon Musk, has successfully raised $6 billion in a Series B funding round. This substantial investment, announced in a blog post on Sunday, will help xAI's efforts to develop and launch its first products, positioning it as a direct competitor to OpenAI.

The funding round attracted a diverse group of investors, including prominent names like Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and Fidelity Management & Research. 

"xAI will continue on this steep trajectory of progress over the coming months," the blog post said, "with multiple exciting technology updates and products soon to be announced." 

Founded in 2023, xAI operates independently from Musk's other ventures, such as Tesla and SpaceX. The company aims to create a safer and more beneficial artificial general intelligence (AGI) than existing models like OpenAI's ChatGPT.

"xAI is primarily focused on the development of advanced AI systems that are truthful, competent, and maximally beneficial for all of humanity. the post said.

xAI boasts a team of experienced AI researchers and engineers hailing from renowned institutions like Google Research, DeepMind, OpenAI, and Tesla. 

While specific details about xAI's upcoming products and research directions remain undisclosed, the company has emphasised a commitment to ethical development and prioritizing safety in AI advancements.

The funding round significantly boosts xAI's resources and sets the stage for accelerated development and commercialisation of its AI solutions.