Elon Musk, owner and executive chairman of X Corp., the social media giant, has initiated legal action against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman. Musk alleges that OpenAI, once dedicated to building artificial intelligence systems for the benefit of humanity, has deviated from its mission and become a closed-source subsidiary focused on maximizing profits for Microsoft, its largest technology ally.
The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco, contends that OpenAI has undergone a significant transformation, becoming a de facto subsidiary of Microsoft. Musk's legal team argues that the generative AI company, once envisioned for the benefit of humanity, is now refining artificial general intelligence (AGI) to prioritize Microsoft's corporate profits.
Elon Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI in 2015, originally intended the organization to operate as a non-profit entity working for the betterment of humanity. However, Musk left OpenAI's board in 2018, before the introduction of a for-profit unit. The lawsuit accuses OpenAI and its top executives of betraying the founding agreement by fostering a close relationship with Microsoft, contrary to the commitment to open-sourcing their code.
The lawsuit claims that Microsoft has invested approximately $13 billion in OpenAI, leading to regulatory reviews in the U.S. and elsewhere. Musk contends that this alliance with Microsoft has set the original open-source commitment 'aflame' and is 'perverting' OpenAI's mission.
The legal action brought by Musk against OpenAI, Sam Altman, and Greg Brockman includes allegations of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and unfair business practices. The lawsuit marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over the direction and principles of artificial intelligence development.