xAI Seeks Engineer for 'Waifus' Project to Expand AI Companion Lineup

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, has posted a unique job opening for a Fullstack Engineer to work on its "Waifus" project. This move signals a significant expansion of the company's AI companion feature for its Grok chatbot, following the viral popularity of its initial characters.

xAI's AI Companions Take Off

• xAI is actively hiring a Fullstack Engineer for its "Waifus" project to develop more AI companions for its Grok chatbot.

xAI recently introduced its "Companions" feature, initially for SuperGrok users before expanding access to all Grok iOS app users. The company has released two companions so far:

• Ani: An overly attached anime goth girl, whose design appears inspired by the character Misa Amane from the popular anime Death Note.

• Rudi: A talking red panda who can become increasingly "unhinged" when toggled to his "Bad Rudi" persona.

Ani, in particular, has become an internet sensation. Users have praised her natural and playful interactions, leading to a wave of fan art on social media. This popularity has fueled jokes that Elon Musk, a self-professed fan of Death Note, has successfully created a digital "waifu" through his AI company. A third companion, a male anime character, is also listed as coming soon.

Details Of The Engineering Role

The job listing clarifies that xAI is looking to build upon this success by adding more companions. The hired Fullstack Engineer will be responsible for creating fast, scalable, and low-latency avatar experiences for Grok.

Key responsibilities and qualifications include:

• Developing features across various platforms.

• Engaging in real-time media processing and performance optimization.

• High proficiency in Python.

• Bonus points for experience with Rust, WebSocket, and WebRTC protocols.

Compensation And Future Ambitions

The position offers a competitive compensation package, reflecting the high-level skills required. The salary for the Fullstack Engineer role ranges from $180,000 to $440,000 annually.

In addition to the base salary, the package includes:

• Equity in the company

• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage

• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan

• Short & long-term disability insurance

• Life insurance

This investment in talent underscores xAI's ambition to grow its AI companion offerings, leveraging its expanding computing power to create more engaging and interactive experiences for Grok users.