After the New York Times sued OpenAI for copyright infringement, Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX and former co-founder of OpenAI, has joined in with a new lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman.
According to a report by the Courthouse News Service, Musk has accused OpenAI of transitioning to a closed-source company, influenced by Microsoft’s significant stake in the organization. Musk further alleges that OpenAI has strayed from its original commitment to being open-source.
The lawsuit was filed in the San Francisco Superior Court on Thursday. Musk claims that Microsoft’s influence on OpenAI has become too dominant, compromising the organization’s ability to develop technology for the benefit of all humanity.
In the lawsuit, Elon Musk states that…
OpenAI, Inc. has been transformed into a closed-source de facto subsidiary of the largest technology company in the world: Microsoft. Under its new board, it is not just developing but is actually refining an AGI to maximize profits for Microsoft, rather than for the benefit of humanity.
Musk argues that OpenAI has violated its fiduciary duty and accuses the company of engaging in unfair business practices. He insists that OpenAI should return to its origins as an open-source entity.
Notably, Musk is requesting an injunction to prevent OpenAI, Sam Altman, Gregory Brockman (President of OpenAI), and even Microsoft from profiting from the AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) technology being developed by the company.
Regarding GPT-4, Elon Musk states, “The internal details of GPT-4 are known only to OpenAI and, on information and belief, to Microsoft. GPT-4 is hence the opposite of ‘open AI’. And it is closed for propriety commercial reasons: Microsoft stands to make a fortune selling GPT-4 to the public, which would not be possible if OpenAI – as it is required to do – makes the technology freely available to the public.”
In the lawsuit, Musk highlights the tumult within OpenAI last year surrounding the dismissal and subsequent reinstatement of Sam Altman as CEO.
Musk alleges that Microsoft intervened and pressured board members who sought to remove Altman from OpenAI to resign. Currently, according to Musk, the board lacks any members with scientific or technological expertise.
Musk also alleges that “OpenAI, Inc.’s once carefully crafted non-profit structure was replaced by a purely profit-driven CEO and a Board with inferior technical expertise in AGI and AI public policy. The board now has an observer seat reserved solely for Microsoft.”
It’s worth noting that Microsoft is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Musk, who was on the OpenAI board until 2018, resigned reportedly due to a conflict related to the development of GPT-4. Reports suggest that Musk attempted to take control of OpenAI but was rebuffed by Sam Altman and other board members. Following his resignation, Musk ceased his financial support to OpenAI.
These events highlight the current state of the AI industry. With the recent launch of Sora by OpenAI, concerns have arisen that the organization may be internally testing a significantly more powerful AI model that could bring us closer to AGI. What are your thoughts on Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI and Sam Altman? Share your opinion in the comments below. Let us know in the comments below.
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