Elon Musk has initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI, its co-founders, and related entities, accusing them of deviating from their initial nonprofit mission aimed at benefiting humanity. Musk alleges that OpenAI, which he helped establish and fund, promised to offer its technology for public benefit but has since shifted to a profit-driven approach, particularly after partnering with Microsoft. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco, argues that OpenAI has become a de facto subsidiary of Microsoft, prioritizing profit over its founding goals.
The legal action highlights Musk's concerns about OpenAI's transformation, asserting that the organization has been focusing on commercializing its AGI research to benefit Microsoft rather than the public. Musk, who has significantly funded OpenAI and declined a stake in its for-profit arm, is seeking legal measures to realign OpenAI with its original mission and prevent the monetization of its technologies for private gain.
The lawsuit also scrutinizes the relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI, suggesting that Microsoft has substantial control over OpenAI's intellectual property and resources. Musk's legal challenge contends that OpenAI's advanced AI technologies, like GPT-4, should be recognized as artificial general intelligence and remain dedicated to public welfare, urging the court to enforce OpenAI's adherence to its foundational objectives.