Elon Musk, co-founder of OpenAI in 2015, has filed a lawsuit against the organization and its CEO, Sam Altman, claiming that OpenAI has deviated from its original nonprofit mission. The lawsuit, filed on February 29, 2024, in California state court, alleges that OpenAI's partnership with Microsoft for $13 billion and the secrecy surrounding the code of its latest generative AI products violate the company's founding charter and constitute a breach of contract. Musk, who left OpenAI in 2018 to establish his own AI company, xAI, seeks a jury trial and demands Altman, co-founder Greg Brockman, and the company to repay the profits gained.
OpenAI was initially established as a safeguard against the perceived threats of artificial generative intelligence (AGI) to humanity, with a commitment to public code disclosure and a nonprofit mission. Musk's lawsuit contends that OpenAI's transformation into a for-profit entity, OpenAI LP, within its structure, has prioritized profit over its original mission, with Microsoft exerting significant influence. The legal action raises concerns about the impact of Microsoft's role in OpenAI and highlights Musk's persistent stance on the potential risks associated with AGI, framing the current leadership of OpenAI as prioritizing profit over ethical considerations.
