Elon Musk, CEO of X, Tesla, and Space X is taking the extraordinary step of filing a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman.
The suit alleges Altman is putting the pursuit of profit before the safety of humanity.
MSN reported the suit “marks a dramatic escalation of a long-simmering feud between tech industry titans over the future of AI.”
Musk maintains the suit is necessary to help hold AI technology leaders to their commitment to using the technology to better humanity. Elon claims OpenAI has “abandoned” the “founding mission” of developing the technology for the common good.
The filing reveals that in 2015, OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and Altman approached Musk to discuss the need to develop artificial general intelligence for the “benefit of humanity.”
According to One American News, discussions evolved into an agreement to create a non-profit with clearly defined altruistic goals.
The suit, filed in a San Francisco court last Thursday, claims that Musk was the primary “moving force” behind the creation of OpenAI, but walked away from the venture in 2018 when the trajectory of the work shifted.
Microsoft became a driving partner in the work in 2020. Musk’s attorneys allege in the filing that “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.”
Bloomberg’s Ed Ludlow reported that Musk claimed that Brockman and Altman reneged on their promises to “create a non-profit entity to properly develop AI technology and pursue AI technology for the benefit of humanity.”
Ludlow acknowledged that OpenAI appears to have veered from initial agreements and goals, saying, “In recent months…Open AI has been pretty clear about the trajectory it’s heading on, that it wants to commercialize its technology…”
Ludlow also expressed significant doubt that Musk had legal grounds to prevail in the case but noted Elon’s history of effectively utilizing legal measures to advance his agenda.
OpenAI’s chatbot ChatGPT debuted in November 2022 to great success. One America News reported the AI platform is now the “fastest-growing consumer application in history.”
OpenAI’s success has spurred the development of multiple rival platforms, including large-scale challenges from Google-parent Alphabet, Microsoft, and a coming product from Elon Musk.
Conservative commentator and influencer Ian Miles Cheong posted an interview noting Musk’s latest comments on the matter:
Elon Musk is suing Sam Altman and Open AI for putting profit before humanity and betraying its mission.
Here’s what Sam and Elon thought about AI way back in 2015 when they spoke to Aaron Ross Sorkin. Elon hasn’t changed. What happened to Sam? pic.twitter.com/KHz1eFuqgS
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) March 1, 2024
