SpaceX Discusses Buying Data for AI Models From Failed Startups
2026-09-17
Bloomberg Business
The information displayed in the AIM should not be reported as representing the official views of the OECD or of its member countries.
SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, is reportedly considering purchasing customer and operational data from bankrupt startups to train its AI models, such as Grok. This strategy has raised privacy and labor rights concerns, as using sensitive data without proper consent could violate individual rights.[AI generated]
Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?
The event involves an AI system (Grok) and the development/use of AI through acquiring large datasets. The potential harm is privacy violations due to the transfer of customer data from bankrupt startups without clear consent or guarantees. Since the data purchases are still exploratory and no actual harm has been reported, the event is a plausible risk of harm rather than a realized harm. Therefore, it fits the definition of an AI Hazard, as the development and use of the AI system could plausibly lead to violations of privacy rights, a form of harm under the framework.[AI generated]