Elon Musk Takes Legal Action Against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman Over Contract Violation

Elon Musk is taking legal action against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman. He claims that the company, known for ChatGPT, has strayed from its original nonprofit mission by teaming up with Microsoft for $13 billion and keeping the code for its latest AI products under wraps.

Musk, one of the co-founders of OpenAI in 2015, has since departed and established his own AI venture called xAI. He is seeking a jury trial and requesting that the company, Altman, and co-founder Greg Brockman reimburse the profits they gained from the business.

The company was established to monitor the potential dangers of artificial generative intelligence (AGI) as perceived by its founders. They implemented a board of overseers to evaluate all company products, and made the code of its products publicly available.

OpenAI did not provide a response to CNN's request for comment.

Altman, Brockman, and Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever came together in 2019 to create OpenAI LP, a for-profit entity operating under the larger company's umbrella. With Altman at the helm, this for-profit venture transformed OpenAI from being of little value to reaching a valuation of $90 billion within a short span of time, earning him recognition as the architect behind the company's success.

Musk raised concerns in his complaint, alleging that the company's collaboration with Microsoft went against OpenAI's charter and constituted a breach of contract.

The complaint stated that under its new Board, OpenAI is focused on refining an AGI to maximize profits for Microsoft, rather than prioritizing the benefit of humanity. The technology, including GPT-4, is closed-source mainly to serve Microsoft's proprietary commercial interests.

Elon Musk, who departed from OpenAI in 2018, has been vocal about the risks associated with artificial intelligence. In the complaint, he portrayed the current leaders of OpenAI as driven by greed.

“Where some like Mr. Musk see an existential threat in AGI, others see AGI as a source of profit and power,” the complaint stated.

This is a breaking news story. It will be updated.

Editor's P/S:

The legal battle between Elon Musk and OpenAI highlights the complex ethical and commercial challenges surrounding the development of artificial intelligence. While Musk's concerns about the potential dangers of AI are valid, his departure from the company and subsequent lawsuit suggest a personal vendetta and a desire to control the narrative.

OpenAI's transformation from a non-profit to a for-profit entity raises questions about the balance between commercialization and the public good. The company's partnership with Microsoft may provide financial stability but also raises concerns about the potential misuse of AI technology. Transparency and accountability are crucial in ensuring that AI is developed and used for the benefit of humanity, not just the profit of a few.