Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, the artificial intelligence research company he co-founded, and its CEO Sam Altman.
The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI has strayed from its original mission of developing open-source AI for the public good, prioritizing profit instead.
Musk Argues OpenAI Became “Closed-Source Subsidiary” of Microsoft.
Musk claims OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft, a multibillion-dollar deal, contradicts its founding agreement and turns the company into a “closed-source subsidiary” of Microsoft.
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OpenAI Counters, Emphasizes Independence and Safeguards
OpenAI refutes these claims, maintaining its status as an entirely independent company governed by a nonprofit organization.
They state that Microsoft only holds a non-voting observer position on the board and has no control over the company’s direction.
OpenAI says their agreements with Microsoft exclude Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) from any commercialization deals, its development remains focused on safety and public benefit.
OpenAI’s Structure and Mission
OpenAI was founded with the goal of building safe and beneficial artificial general intelligence (AGI) for the benefit of humanity.
The company’s guiding principles of safety and broad benefit would be central to its approach
Musk Concerns About Uncontrolled AI
Musk has widely voiced his concerns about the potential dangers of AI.
He has previously warned of the potential for AI to become dangerous and pose a risk to humanity. This lawsuit adds to the ongoing challenges OpenAI faces, including:
- Regulators in US, EU, and UK scrutinize OpenAI’s Microsoft partnership and copyrighted training data.
- Media outlets, writers, and programmers sue OpenAI for alleged copyright infringement in chatbot training.
- US SEC investigates OpenAI after temporary removal and reinstatement of CEO, Sam Altman.
Musk’s lawsuit complicates OpenAI, raising doubts about its future mission and Microsoft ties.
Legal battles are underway, leaving the impact on AI development and its consequences for humanity uncertain.
