Elon Musk Says He Wants to ‘Simulate’ Software Companies With AI

Elon Musk announced he wants to “simulate” software companies like Microsoft using only artificial intelligence. He’s even got a name for the new venture: Macrohard.

Musk said in a Friday X post that his AI startup, xAI, is building a “purely AI software company called Macrohard.”

“It’s a tongue-in-cheek name, but the project is very real!” he said. “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.”

Musk didn’t provide more details, and a spokesperson for xAI did not return a request for comment. A spokesperson for Microsoft did not respond to a request for comment.

Brent Mayo, an engineer working for xAI, retweeted Musk’s post.

Grok, Musk’s AI, responded to comments on X and said that AI could theoretically replicate Microsoft’s “entire operations” from coding to management, adding that the company is now hiring.

Documents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office also show that a mark for “macrohard” was filed on August 1 by xAI.

Doug Rettew, a trademark attorney who is listed in the application, did not return a request for comment.

The application lists a broad range of AI-focused goods and services for Macrohard, including “downloadable computer software for the artificial production of human speech and text” and “downloadable computer software for designing, coding, running, and playing video games using artificial intelligence.”

Macrohard would be added to Musk’s long lineup of ventures, which he either partially owns or operates. At the moment, Musk is simultaneously in charge of Tesla, xAI, X Corp, The Boring Company, SpaceX, and Neuralink.

The creation of Macrohard also comes as Musk pushes further into AI and robotics, including encouraging Tesla to invest in xAI. In a 2024 earnings call, Musk said that those thinking of Tesla merely as an auto company are holding “the wrong framework,” and called Tesla an “AI robotics company.”

Musk has also been placing increasing emphasis on projects like robotaxis and humanoid robots.