OpenAI pushes back on Musk after lawsuit: Tesla CEO ‘sued us when we started making meaningful progress’

Musk filed the lawsuit last week in San Francisco against the company, Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman, and President Greg Brockman, alleging that OpenAI had strayed from its mission to build responsible AI. OpenAI stated that Musk was reacting after his unsuccessful attempt to make the company part of Tesla Inc.

OpenAI expressed sadness over the situation with Musk, whom they deeply admired and who inspired them to aim higher. They mentioned how Musk started a competitor and then sued them when they started making progress towards OpenAI’s mission without his involvement.

The billionaire Tesla CEO, a co-founder of OpenAI who is no longer part of the company, claims in his lawsuit that OpenAI’s close association with Microsoft Corp. has compromised its original goal of creating open-source technology free from corporate influence.

Musk is suing for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, and unfair business practices, among other issues. He is seeking to stop OpenAI from benefitting Microsoft and Altman personally.

OpenAI, in an internal memo reviewed by Bloomberg, stated that it “categorically disagrees” with Musk’s lawsuit but did not comment publicly when it was originally filed on Feb. 29.