OpenAI, which was initially a non-profit, has transitioned to a "capped" for-profit enterprise and is seeking to become a for-profit public benefit corporation. Musk, who left the company in 2018, has expressed discomfort with the profit-driven direction the company took under CEO Sam Altman. He sued OpenAI in March, accusing it of deviating from its original non-profit mission of making AI research accessible to all. OpenAI has dismissed Musk's lawsuit and his support for open-source AI development as a case of sour grapes following his departure from the company.
Key takeaways:
- Elon Musk has asked a US court to prevent OpenAI from becoming a for-profit enterprise, alleging that it bars its investors from funding competing companies.
- Musk co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but left in 2018 due to discomfort with the profit-driven direction the company was taking under CEO Sam Altman.
- OpenAI, which was initially a non-profit, has switched to a capped for-profit enterprise and is seeking to become a for-profit public benefit corporation.
- Musk filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in March, accusing it of breaking its original non-profit mission to make AI research available to all.