Tesla’s latest pay plan for Elon Musk has reignited speculation around the origins of his artificial intelligence venture, xAI. The company’s proxy statement, filed on September 5, 2025, not only detailed Musk’s potential trillion-dollar payday but also referred to xAI in an unexpected way—sparking curiosity about whether its name has a hidden meaning.

The 16-page compensation plan lays out an ambitious roadmap, tying Musk’s earnings to Tesla’s growth. If targets are met, Musk could secure ownership of more than a quarter of what might become an $8.5 trillion company. In making its case, Tesla highlighted Musk’s achievements with companies such as SpaceX, Neuralink, and “eXploratory Artificial Intelligence or ‘xAI.’”

This particular phrasing, “eXploratory Artificial Intelligence,” has raised eyebrows. While it appears in Tesla’s proxy document, there’s no trace of it in other official filings. xAI, also known as X.AI Corp., is not described by that term on its website, in Nevada incorporation documents, federal lawsuits, or securities filings. Instead, the venture is always referred to simply as xAI or X.AI Corp.

Business Insider’s review of public records suggests that Tesla’s wording may not reflect the company’s official branding. The phrase “exploratory artificial intelligence” is also rarely used online, appearing only occasionally in academic papers or niche blogs. Interestingly, Musk’s chatbot Grok referenced “exploratory AI” in several social media posts this past summer, but these mentions were tied to creative interactions rather than as a substitute name for xAI.

Adding to the confusion, Tesla and xAI did not respond to questions about whether the company’s name truly stands for “exploratory artificial intelligence.” This silence has left the interpretation open-ended and speculative.

What is clear, however, is Musk’s longstanding attachment to the letter “X.” From SpaceX to Tesla’s Model X, the naming of his son “X,” and even his fintech roots in X.com (which later became PayPal), the character has become a recurring motif across Musk’s ventures. His 2022 acquisition and rebranding of Twitter to X.com cemented this identity even further.

xAI itself was founded in Nevada in March 2023 and was formally introduced by Musk in a July livestream. At the time, he described its mission as “to build a good AGI with the overarching purpose of just trying to understand the universe.” Earlier in 2025, xAI merged with Musk’s social media business, X Corp., deepening the interconnection of his “X”-branded empire.

While the term “exploratory artificial intelligence” may have slipped into Tesla’s proxy statement, it remains uncertain whether this was intentional or simply a descriptive flourish. Until Musk or xAI provides clarity, the name continues to carry an air of mystery—fitting for a company aiming to unlock the secrets of the universe.