Elon Musk slams OpenAI and Microsoft with Rs 11 lakh crore lawsuit, alleging betrayal of non-profit roots
San Francisco (The Uttam Hindu): The battle for supremacy in the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has now reached the courtroom, and this battle is poised to prove extremely costly. Tesla and X owner Elon Musk has filed the largest legal claim to date against OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, and tech giant Microsoft. Musk has alleged that OpenAI has deviated from its original non-profit mission and defrauded him. Based on this, he has demanded damages ranging from $79 billion to $134 billion (approximately Rs 11 lakh crore in Indian currency). The case has now moved towards a jury trial, which is being watched closely by the entire world.
Making profits by promising the welfare of humanity
Elon Musk argues that when he co-founded OpenAI in 2015, he invested approximately $38 million in the belief that the organization would work for the benefit of humanity and stay away from profits. According to Musk, the company has compromised its principles. He alleges that OpenAI has turned itself into a "money-making machine" by partnering with Microsoft. Musk says this is a betrayal of him and the ideals for which the company was founded.
Sought a share in a $500 billion company
The court filings rely on a report by financial expert C. Paul Weight. The report states that OpenAI's valuation today has reached approximately $500 billion. Musk has sought a stake in the company, citing his contributions in the form of technical and business advice, in addition to his own money. According to the claim, OpenAI has been accused of "unjust enrichment" ranging from $65 to $109 billion, and Microsoft from $13 to $25 billion.
OpenAI counterattacks: They are filing a case because they did not get control
On the other hand, OpenAI has called Musk's allegations completely baseless and motivated by frustration. In its defense, the company has stated that Musk's lawsuit is a tactic to harass them. OpenAI revealed that Elon Musk wanted complete control of the company and was planning to merge it with his car company, Tesla. When the board refused to agree to this demand, they parted ways in 2018.
A story of a friend turned foe
It's worth noting that since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, Elon Musk has become one of OpenAI's most vocal critics. He frequently taunts OpenAI as a "closed source" and "maximum profit" company. Meanwhile, OpenAI has transformed itself into a "public benefit corporation," giving Microsoft a 27 percent stake. It will be interesting to see what the court's decision is in this high-profile case.