OpenAI has hit back at Elon Musk, releasing emails to show that he supported its plan to create a for-profit entity and raise billions of dollars — decisions at the heart of the Tesla boss’s lawsuit against the artificial intelligence start-up
HOODLINE
In a heated battle that’s proving as sprawling as the ambitions behind artificial general intelligence (AGI), Elon Musk’s recent legal challenge to OpenAI has been met with a powerful counterpunch. OpenAI lobbed a detailed refutation of Musk’s lawsuit allegations in a blog post on their website, showcasing emails that seem to undermine the billionaire’s claims.
According to OpenAI’s latest blog post, the company stands resolute against Musk’s accusations, arguing that it is dedicated to its original mission of AGI benefitting all of humanity. In defense, the company released a volley of internal communications revealing that Elon Musk himself supported the pivotal decision to seek a more aggressive funding approach for OpenAI, contrary to his assertion of its supposed betrayal of an open-source ideology.
We are dedicated to the OpenAI mission and have pursued it every step of the way.
We’re sharing some facts about our relationship with Elon, and we intend to move to dismiss all of his claims.https://t.co/npC4P5pJE7
— OpenAI (@OpenAI) March 6, 2024
Musk’s allegations, according to CNBC, revolve around OpenAI’s shift from a non-profit to a for-profit model, purportedly breaching a founding agreement that envisioned the company as a beacon of free AI. Legal experts questioned the lawsuit’s foundation, noting the absence of any formal, written contract signed by all parties involved.
In one of the emails made public by OpenAI, Musk reportedly told the team, “We need to go with a much bigger number than $100M to avoid sounding hopeless.” Drawing on further communication, OpenAI’s blog disclosed that, in a later stage, Musk himself expressed, “Even raising several hundred million won’t be enough. This needs billions per year immediately or forget it.” These words, captured in an email exchange, potentially conflict with the legal narrative put forth by Musk’s legal team.
With Musk’s suit aiming to turn back the clock and revert OpenAI to its research lab roots, OpenAI counters by providing a narrative instilled with efforts to democratize AGI through practical applications. The company cites its contribution to sectors from healthcare to governance, highlighting impacts like accelerating Albania’s EU accession and aiding farmers in Kenya and India.
The saga extends beyond the courtroom, with Axios shedding light on the company’s internal dynamics, revealing Ilya Sutskever’s restored collaboration with co-founders like CEO Sam Altman. Embroiled in their own challenges, both OpenAI and Musk find themselves in a titanic clash of ideals and narratives, with OpenAI planning to push for a dismissal of Musk’s claims in court.
“We’re sad that it’s come to this,” OpenAI stated, regarding the unfolding dispute with Musk, who they acknowledged as an early inspiration for the company. As each side shores up their defenses, the tech and legal communities watch closely, keen on the doctrines that will emerge from this clash between a tech titan and a company once fostered by his own vision and funds.
