SpaceX, Tesla, and X owner Elon Musk, is in a legal battle with OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that their non-profit agreements have been violated. According to a recent filing in the San Francisco County California Superior Court, Musk claims that OpenAI’s collaboration with Microsoft deviates from the fundamental principles of advancing open-source artificial general intelligence for the benefit of humanity.
Elon Musk Takes a Stand
Musk’s lawsuit details complaints such as breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and unfair business practices. He is calling for OpenAI to return to its open-source principles and is seeking an injunction to prevent the exploitation of this technology for profit.
According to the court filing, the March 2023 release of ChatGPT-4 significantly deviated from OpenAI’s principles. Despite being presented as a breakthrough in artificial intelligence, GPT-4 is a closed model, unlike its predecessors. Musk argues that this move towards proprietary technology financially benefits Microsoft and contradicts OpenAI’s original non-profit mission.
OpenAI began its work in 2015 as a non-profit artificial intelligence research lab but became a commercial giant after establishing a business arm in 2020. Since then, OpenAI has shifted to a profit-oriented model. Critics, including Musk, who is one of OpenAI’s founders, argue that the company now focuses on speed and profit rather than a positive human impact.
Financial Times reports, based on information from two people familiar with the company’s finances, that OpenAI’s revenues have exceeded $2 billion annually, thanks to the tremendous success of its leading AI product ChatGPT, making it one of the fastest-growing tech companies.
Elon Musk and OpenAI
Musk consistently views artificial intelligence as a significant threat to human civilization. He has drawn regulators’ attention by advocating for strict government regulations and careful consideration of AI research. Musk’s primary advice is to acquire comprehensive knowledge to better understand the issue.
Musk also criticizes the current expertise of OpenAI’s board of directors, claiming they lack the necessary technical knowledge for responsible AGI development. He highlights the removal and subsequent reinstatement of Altman as CEO in November 2023 as evidence of a profit-driven agenda aligned with Microsoft’s interests.
Musk, who was a member of OpenAI’s board until 2018, pointed out that the conflict between the board and Altman concerns the development of ChatGPT-4 and the next phase of AGI technology. He expressed his concerns about how this could affect public safety.
