court records, public statements from Elon Musk or OpenAI

OpenAI Claims Elon Musk Supported For-Profit Model in 2017 Legal Battle Over CEO Control and AGI

Dec 13, 2024, 08:25 PM

OpenAI has intensified its legal battle with co-founder Elon Musk, asserting that Musk originally supported a for-profit model for the company. In a recent blog post, OpenAI published internal emails and messages from Musk dating back to 2017, which indicate that he sought majority control and the title of CEO. OpenAI claims Musk's push for a for-profit structure was part of a broader power struggle that led to his departure from the board in 2018. The company argues that Musk's recent allegations against it are unfounded, emphasizing that he cannot 'sue his way to AGI' (artificial general intelligence). This ongoing dispute highlights internal conflicts at OpenAI regarding its mission and governance, particularly fears of an 'AI dictatorship.' The rivalry between OpenAI and its competitor Anthropic is also notable, as Anthropic's rapid growth has raised concerns within OpenAI about maintaining its leadership in the AI sector.