Elon Musk sought 90% stake in OpenAI during high-profile legal dispute

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Testifies in Court

A trial began on Tuesday in Oakland, California, involving OpenAI’s leadership and its potential initial public offering. The case centers around claims made by Elon Musk, who sued Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman over alleged misrepresentation of the company’s original purpose.

Musk alleges that he invested $38 billion in OpenAI based on a goal to improve humanity, only to see the company pivot to a for-profit venture in 2019. However, Altman testified that Musk was aware of the plans to develop OpenAI into a for-profit enterprise when he invested and even petitioned to have a majority stake in the company.

Altman described Musk’s actions as an attempt to exert control over OpenAI, rather than “stealing a charity.” The two men have a long history of disagreement on artificial intelligence issues. Musk has his own AI chatbot, Grok, which has been criticized for promoting right-wing conspiracy theories and offensive materials.

The trial is ongoing, with Altman’s testimony marking the latest development in the case. The outcome could determine OpenAI’s future leadership and products like ChatGPT. As part of the lawsuit, Musk seeks to remove Altman and Brockman from their positions.

OpenAI is preparing for a potential initial public offering that could value the company at $1 trillion. The trial comes as lawmakers consider how to regulate AI, with the industry becoming increasingly influential in politics.

Source: Al Jazeera