Following the New York Times’ copyright infringement lawsuit against OpenAI, Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk has filed his lawsuit against the AI research company and its CEO, Sam Altman.
Musk’s lawsuit, filed in San Francisco, accuses OpenAI of abandoning its original commitment to open-source development and becoming unduly influenced by Microsoft, a major investor. He alleges that Microsoft’s influence has compromised OpenAI’s mission to develop beneficial technology for humanity.
Specifically, the lawsuit claims:
- OpenAI has become a closed-source subsidiary of Microsoft. This shift, according to Musk, prioritizes profit for Microsoft over the broader good.
- OpenAI has breached its fiduciary duty and engaged in unfair business practices. This includes the alleged development of closed-source technology like GPT-4, which Musk believes should be open-source.
- The OpenAI board lacks sufficient expertise in AGI and AI policy. This claim follows the controversial firing and reinstatement of Altman as CEO and the alleged departure of board members with relevant scientific backgrounds.
Musk seeks an injunction to prevent OpenAI, Altman, and Microsoft from profiting from the disputed AGI technology. He argues that keeping the technology closed contradicts OpenAI’s original principles and hinders public access.
- Musk resigned from the OpenAI board in 2018, reportedly due to conflicts concerning GPT-4 development.
- Some reports suggest Musk previously attempted to take over OpenAI but was rejected.
- Microsoft is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit.
The lawsuit raises significant questions about the future of OpenAI and its commitment to open-source development. It also reignites concerns about the ethical implications of artificial general intelligence (AGI) and the potential dangers of closed-source technology in this field.
