Final Cofounder Exits Elon Musk's xAI as Company Prepares for Major IPO
In a significant development for the artificial intelligence sector, Ross Nordeen, the last remaining cofounder of Elon Musk's AI company xAI, has departed the organization. According to a report by Business Insider citing individuals familiar with the situation, Nordeen left the company this week, marking the conclusion of an era for the startup even as it gears up for what could become one of the most valuable initial public offerings in history.
The End of an Era for xAI's Founding Team
Nordeen was one of the eleven individuals who assisted Musk in launching xAI back in 2023. His exit represents the final chapter in a steady departure of all original cofounders from the company. The report indicates that his employee badge on X, which previously identified him as an xAI staff member, has now been removed. While the official reason for his departure remains undisclosed, Musk himself has previously acknowledged that xAI was not constructed correctly initially.
"xAI was not built right first time around, so is being rebuilt from the foundations up," Musk stated earlier this month when only two of the original eleven cofounders remained with the company.
The Operational Backbone of xAI
At 36 years old, Nordeen played a crucial role within xAI's operations. He reported directly to Elon Musk and served as his primary operator, responsible for coordinating priorities and driving execution across the entire organization. Insiders described him as the individual who ensured that tasks were actually completed, essentially keeping the company running smoothly.
Nordeen's professional journey with Musk began at Tesla, where he worked as a technical program manager on the Autopilot team, focusing on data centers to train Tesla's Full Self-Driving system. A graduate of Michigan Tech, he shares a personal connection with Musk through his longtime friendship with the billionaire's cousin, James Musk, as documented in Walter Isaacson's biography of Elon Musk.
Furthermore, Nordeen was part of the select group of Tesla and SpaceX engineers brought in to help coordinate job cuts when Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, demonstrating his trusted position within Musk's business ecosystem.
Accelerated Exodus Following SpaceX Merger
The departure of cofounders from xAI has been particularly rapid in recent months. Eight cofounders have left since January alone, including Manuel Kroiss, who led the training of AI models on large datasets and also reported directly to Musk. Kroiss departed during the same week as Nordeen.
Other notable departures from the original founding team include:
- Guodong Zhang
- Zihang Dai
- Toby Pohlen
- Jimmy Ba
- Tony Wu
- Greg Yang
The report suggests that this exodus gained momentum following SpaceX's merger with xAI in February, a strategic move executed ahead of the planned initial public offering. This consolidation appears to have triggered significant organizational changes within the AI company.
As xAI continues its rebuilding process and prepares for a potentially historic IPO, the departure of its final original cofounder raises questions about the company's internal dynamics and future direction under Musk's leadership. The complete turnover of the founding team represents a remarkable transformation for a company that has garnered significant attention in the competitive artificial intelligence landscape.
