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Elon Musk Files Lawsuit Against OpenAI for Deviating from Original Mission
Elon Musk has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging a deviation from the company's original mission. Musk claims that OpenAI shifted its focus towards profitability instead of benefiting humanity. The lawsuit seeks to make OpenAI's research and technology accessible to the public and prevent financial gains for Microsoft or individuals.
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has taken legal action against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging that the company has strayed from its original mission of developing artificial intelligence (AI) for the betterment of humanity. The lawsuit, filed in California Superior Court, claims that OpenAI has shifted its focus towards profitability rather than the intended goal of benefiting society.
Musk, who co-founded OpenAI but later left to establish his own AI startup called xAI, accuses Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman of breaching their contract. According to Musk, the initial agreement was to create an open-source, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing AI technology for the greater good.
The lawsuit asserts that OpenAI's founders had agreed to work on artificial general intelligence (AGI), which refers to machines capable of performing tasks at a human level, with the intention of benefiting humanity. Musk also expressed concerns about Alphabet Inc's Google, believing that the company was developing AGI for profit, which he deemed to be a significant risk.
However, Musk claims that OpenAI deviated from its original path in 2023 when it released its powerful language model, GPT-4, which he alleges was essentially a Microsoft product. Musk seeks a court ruling that would require OpenAI to make its research and technology accessible to the public and prevent the company from using its assets for financial gain.
OpenAI's top executives, including Altman, have refuted Musk's claims. Altman acknowledged that challenges were expected but remained confident in the company's mission. OpenAI, Microsoft, and Musk have not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit.
In addition to the lawsuit, Musk is also seeking a ruling that would classify GPT-4 and a new advanced technology called Q* as AGI, thereby excluding them from Microsoft's license to OpenAI. Musk's interest in gaining control of OpenAI dates back to 2017 when he aimed to transform the organization into a commercial entity in collaboration with Tesla, utilizing the automaker's supercomputers. However, his efforts were met with resistance, leading to his resignation from OpenAI in 2018.
Musk's concerns about AI regulation have been well-documented, and he has repeatedly called for its implementation. The outcome of this lawsuit could have implications for the future development and use of AI technology.
Elon Musk has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging a deviation from the company's original mission.
Musk claims that OpenAI shifted its focus towards profitability instead of benefiting humanity.
The lawsuit seeks to make OpenAI's research and technology accessible to the public and prevent financial gains for Microsoft or individuals.
Source: REUTERS