Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has put forward a unique stipulation to settle his legal dispute with OpenAI. He suggests that the organization should rename itself “‘ClosedAI.”
Musk articulated this requirement in a message on X, asserting, “Change your name to ClosedAI and I will drop the lawsuit.” Further elaborating in subsequent messages, he stressed, that OpenAI ought to stop living a lie.
Introducing a visual element to his demand, Musk edited a picture of Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, by substituting the details on Altman’s guest ID Card with the words “ClosedAI” alongside OpenAI’s logo.
Following recent events, Musk has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, who oversees the entity behind ChatGPT. Musk accuses them of breaching contractual agreements that were established when he co-founded the ChatGPT-making organization in 2015.
The billionaire asserted that OpenAI had strayed from its original mission by prioritizing profits over advancing humanity. Musk’s legal team contended that OpenAI’s profit-centric approach contradicted the initial agreement. Reportedly, Musk stepped down from OpenAI’s board in 2018.
In reaction, OpenAI disclosed private emails with Musk, expressing regret over the situation. They highlighted Musk’s initial endorsement, his subsequent departure, and his intention to develop an AGI competitor within Tesla.
Legal experts question the validity of Musk’s breach of contract claims, casting doubt on the lawsuit’s potential success. However, the legal dispute has highlighted internal conflicts within OpenAI, particularly regarding its governance, research transparency, and pursuit of artificial general intelligence.
The sudden termination and subsequent reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman in November 2023 have intensified speculation about internal tensions. An internal investigation aims to uncover the circumstances surrounding Altman’s dismissal and return.
Furthermore, the investigation is expected to reveal internal conflicts leading to communication breakdowns, offering insights into OpenAI’s challenges as it transitions from a nonprofit to a primarily for-profit entity.
The organization underscored the necessity for significant capital, which Musk proposed linking to Tesla, but they declined. OpenAI concluded by expressing disappointment that Musk opted to sue them despite their progress toward their mission without his involvement.
OpenAI stated, “When he left in late February 2018, he told our team he was supportive of us finding our path to raising billions of dollars.”
