In the latest development of their escalating legal dispute, OpenAI has released additional internal communications suggesting that Elon Musk initially supported the company’s transition to a for-profit model. The revelation comes as a direct challenge to Musk’s recent legal efforts to prevent the AI company from adopting a corporate structure.
Through a detailed blog post titled “Elon Musk wanted an OpenAI for profit,” the company presented evidence including a November 2015 email where Musk expressed to CEO Sam Altman that the non-profit structure “doesn’t seem optimal.” OpenAI alleges that both parties were aligned on pursuing a for-profit model in fall 2017, but claims Musk withdrew his support after failing to secure majority ownership, reportedly predicting the company’s failure.
The timing of these disclosures appears strategic, following Musk’s recent federal court petition to block OpenAI’s structural transition. In its Friday legal filing, OpenAI suggests Musk’s opposition stems from competitive interests, particularly his development of xAI and its Grok chatbot.
Previously released communications from March revealed Musk’s early financial commitments to OpenAI, including a proposed $1 billion funding commitment. The company has also alleged that Musk sought to merge OpenAI with Tesla, potentially using it as a revenue generator for the electric vehicle manufacturer.
While Musk departed from OpenAI’s board in 2018, his legal team maintains he continued contributing to the organization until 2020. OpenAI characterizes Musk’s latest legal action as his fourth attempt to “reframe his claims” within a year, suggesting he should “compete in the marketplace rather than the courtroom.”
The dispute highlights broader tensions surrounding artificial intelligence development and corporate governance in the tech sector, with OpenAI directly challenging Musk’s motivations by stating, “You can’t sue your way to AGI [Artificial General Intelligence].”
Musk has not yet responded to requests for comment on these latest revelations.
