Elon Musk sues OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman over contract breach

Technology
Friday, March 1st, 2024 4:16 pm EDT

Key Points

  • Elon Musk is suing Microsoft-backed OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging they abandoned the company’s original mission to develop artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity.
  • Musk’s lawsuit claims that OpenAI, once a nonprofit lab focused on AGI development, has become a closed-source subsidiary of Microsoft, prioritizing profit maximization over its founding principles.
  • The legal action seeks to compel OpenAI to adhere to its founding agreement and return to its mission of developing AGI for the benefit of humanity, rather than for personal gain or the benefit of a single technology company.

Elon Musk has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging that the organization has deviated from its original mission of developing artificial intelligence (AI) for the benefit of humanity. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, asserts that the nonprofit lab was established to pursue artificial general intelligence (AGI) with a focus on benefiting humanity. However, Musk claims that OpenAI has transformed into a closed-source subsidiary of Microsoft, prioritizing profit maximization for the tech giant over its original mission. The lawsuit aims to compel OpenAI to return to its founding principles and develop AGI for the greater good rather than personal gain. Microsoft, facing antitrust scrutiny over its investment in OpenAI, declined to comment on the lawsuit. The legal dispute underscores the clash between Musk and Altman, two influential figures in the tech industry, amidst the growing hype surrounding AI advancements. Musk, known for his ventures in Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink, has also launched his own AI company, xAI. Meanwhile, Altman’s tenure at OpenAI has been marked by controversy, including his abrupt dismissal and subsequent reinstatement in 2023. The lawsuit reflects broader tensions within the tech community regarding the ethical development and deployment of AI technologies.

For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/03/01/elon-musk-sues-openai-and-ceo-sam-altman-over-contract-breach.html