Musk, OpenAI lawyers trade barbs as lawsuit heads to trial
Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI will proceed to trial, intensifying his dispute with the company and CEO Sam Altman over its for-profit shift.Summary
Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI is moving forward to trial, escalating a long-standing conflict with the company and its CEO, Sam Altman. Musk alleges he was misled about OpenAI’s commitment to remaining a non-profit, safer alternative to profit-driven tech companies, and claims he was “assiduously manipulated” when OpenAI pursued for-profit ventures like its partnership with Microsoft. OpenAI denies these claims, calling the lawsuit “baseless” and part of a pattern of harassment.
The dispute stems from OpenAI’s initial founding in 2015 as a non-profit, with Musk departing the board in 2018 after disagreements over a potential Tesla acquisition. In 2024, OpenAI announced plans to become a for-profit company, later restructuring to maintain non-profit control. Microsoft holds a significant investment in OpenAI’s for-profit arm, valued at approximately $135 billion.
Musk, who has voiced concerns about the dangers of AI and founded his own AI company, xAI, argues that Altman and others have unjustly enriched themselves. The trial will address allegations of breach of fiduciary duty and deceptive practices, with Microsoft also named as a defendant.
(Source：Cnbc)