xAI CEO Elon Musk has announced plans to start a new AI-based project, a “purely AI software company called Macrohard.” This project aims to simulate software companies like Microsoft using AI.
“It’s a tongue-in-cheek name, but the project is very real!” Musk said via X on Aug. 22. “In principle, given that software companies like Microsoft do not themselves manufacture any physical hardware, it should be possible to simulate them entirely with AI.”
When a user asked Grok, Musk’s AI chatbot about Macrohard, the chatbot replied saying Macrohard — xAI’s “playful project name” is a “nod to Microsoft.”
READ: Tesla’s $29 billion Musk payout faces opposition from labor and advocacy groups (
“The goal: since firms like Microsoft produce no physical hardware, AI could theoretically replicate their entire operations—from coding to management. It’s real, and we’re hiring!” Grok said. When asked about what Macrohard would sell, the chatbot said it will offer “software solutions” like “specialized agents for coding, image generation, workflow automation, and more—collaborating in multi-agent systems powered by Grok. Essentially, AI building and running the entire operation to output innovative tools.”
xAI filed for a trademark for Macrohard on Aug. 1, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, per Business Insider’s report. The application says its purpose is for “downloadable computer programs and downloadable computer software for the artificial production of human speech and text” and for “agentic artificial intelligence,” among other uses.
Earlier this month, Musk was granted an “interim” pay package of 96 million shares, valued at approximately $29 billion to keep the billionaire as Tesla’s CEO. Musk will be able to claim the award if he continues to be the CEO for another two years. The package was approved in a special committee of the Tesla board where Elon and his brother, Kimbal Musk had recused themselves. Notably, the Tesla board had to design a new pay package for Musk after the Delaware court revoked his $56 billion package from 2018.
READ: From pay packages to board control: Tesla faces investors’ legal scrutiny (
Elon Musk’s brother Kimbal Musk alleged that Elon has not been paid for the last six to eight years by Tesla, while speaking on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” last week. “He has zero pay for the past six to eight years. I don’t think that’s right. I’ll let Tesla shareholders make that decision, but I believe that it does need to be. He needs to be paid,” Kimbal Musk said.
This comes following the backlash over the payout from labor and advocacy groups. A coalition of labor unions and progressive advocacy groups in the U.S. urged officials overseeing public pension funds to oppose fresh pay awards to Elon Musk, claiming that its excessive cost poses a risk to workers’ retirement savings. These groups include the American Federation of Teachers, and MoveOn, and they urged state officials to press asset managers to reject Musk’s new pay plans and push for stronger board independence at the EV maker. Tesla also faced scrutiny over this payout from investors.