Elon Musk sued OpenAI and its chief executive, Sam Altman, accusing them of breaching a contract by prioritizing profits and commercial interests in artificial intelligence development over the public good.
Mr. Musk alleged that OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft meant a departure from its original commitment to responsibly develop A.I. technology and make it available to the public.
The lawsuit claimed that OpenAI had become essentially a part of Microsoft, straying from its nonprofit roots and restricting access to its A.I. technology.
After leaving OpenAI’s board, Mr. Musk criticized the company’s focus on generative A.I., particularly its development of ChatGPT, a humanlike chatbot.
Silicon Valley experts see generative A.I. as a transformative technology, akin to web browsers in the past. However, concerns about its risks, voiced by Mr. Musk and others, persist.
The lawsuit adds to OpenAI’s growing list of issues, including legal challenges, regulatory scrutiny, and internal conflicts surrounding its shift from nonprofit to for-profit status.
Mr. Musk’s lawsuit aims to compel OpenAI to open up its technology, accusing the company and Mr. Altman of contract violations and other misconduct.
OpenAI declined to comment on the lawsuit, which could reveal more about internal strife and strategic changes within the organization.
Though he criticized OpenAI’s commercialization, Mr. Musk reportedly once tried to take control of the lab to align it with his other ventures, including Tesla.
The falling out between Mr. Musk and Mr. Altman stems from differing views on A.I.’s future, with tensions escalating over OpenAI’s direction and financial motives.
The lawsuit depicts Mr. Musk as a key figure in OpenAI’s development, citing his significant financial contributions and operational support.
Without Mr. Musk’s involvement, the suit claims, OpenAI may not have succeeded in its early stages.
