OpenAI claims Elon Musk tried to sabotage the corporate with a pretend takeover bid and public smear marketing campaign.
The lawsuit says Musk turned hostile after ChatGPT’s success and used X to unfold misinformation.
OpenAI rejected Musk’s $97.4B bid, citing fears of repeating the chaos that adopted his Twitter takeover.
OpenAI simply hit again at Elon Musk—laborious. In a countersuit filed April 9, the AI agency accused the billionaire of launching a calculated marketing campaign to tank the corporate’s repute and block its progress.
JUST IN: OpenAI information countersuit in opposition to Elon Musk, accusing him of main a deliberate marketing campaign to undermine the group 👀 pic.twitter.com/NMxxDr4ISR
In keeping with the submitting, Musk allegedly faked a takeover bid and waged a public battle utilizing his platform (yep, that features X) to fire up backlash after OpenAI’s wildly profitable launch of ChatGPT. That second, OpenAI claims, marked a transparent shift—Musk, who had lengthy distanced himself from the corporate, instantly turned hostile.
“Musk made it his venture to take down OpenAI, and to construct a direct competitor that will seize the technological lead—not for humanity however for Elon Musk,” the submitting states.
What’s the meat?
OpenAI says Musk’s assaults weren’t simply private—they have been strategic. The corporate claims he aimed to wreck their credibility within the eyes of the general public, companions, and traders. It additionally accuses him of submitting authorized challenges, demanding delicate inside information, and floating what they’re calling a “sham” $97.4 billion buyout supply.
The submitting goes additional, portray an image of Musk’s conduct as erratic. One huge level of competition? OpenAI’s shift towards a capped-profit mannequin. Musk’s been loud about how that transfer “betrayed” the nonprofit roots of the corporate. However OpenAI says, maintain on—he was completely on board with that construction change on the time.
“Musk peddles the false declare that OpenAI is planning to ‘convert’ from a nonprofit right into a for-profit enterprise… He does so realizing the nonprofit not solely would live on, however can be one of many best-resourced in historical past.”
That Twitter baggage tho…
One huge motive OpenAI says they rejected Musk’s takeover bid? Twitter. After Musk purchased the platform in 2022, issues—nicely—spiraled. Layoffs, accomplice fallout, and chaos outlined the transition. That, OpenAI claims, made them cautious of placing their very own firm in Musk’s palms.
“Traders, companions, and staff noticed what occurred to Twitter… the corporate’s worth plummeted, enterprise companions have been left hanging, most staff have been despatched packing…”
So what now?
OpenAI is asking the court docket to dam Musk from additional motion that would damage the corporate and to carry him accountable for the injury achieved to date. It’s a daring transfer in what’s shaping as much as be a really messy tech feud—and probably a landmark authorized combat on the earth of AI.