Brian Foster Elon Musk has never been one to shy away from confrontation, and his latest legal move is no exception. The billionaire entrepreneur and founder of Tesla and SpaceX has filed a 107-page lawsuit against OpenAI, an organization he co-founded, and Microsoft, alleging anti-competitive practices and a departure from OpenAI’s original mission. The lawsuit marks a significant escalation in Musk’s ongoing criticisms of the artificial intelligence industry and its major players. A Rift Between Musk and OpenAI Elon Musk’s involvement with OpenAI began with its inception in 2015. As one of its co-founders, Musk envisioned an AI research organization focused on benefiting humanity, operating transparently and without profit motives. However, the organization later transitioned into a for-profit entity, valued at billions of dollars thanks to investments from major tech companies like Microsoft. This shift has become a major point of contention for Musk, who claims it contradicts the organization’s founding principles. In his lawsuit, Musk accuses OpenAI’s leadership, including Sam Altman and Greg Brockman, of betraying its original mission. According to Musk’s legal team, the transformation into a profit-driven enterprise undermines the ethical foundations upon which OpenAI was built. The complaint alleges that OpenAI exploited Musk’s early investments, reputation, and recruitment efforts to evolve into a multibillion-dollar AI powerhouse, leaving Musk feeling sidelined. Musk has repeatedly voiced his frustrations on social media, criticizing OpenAI’s direction and leadership. “ChatGPT wouldn’t exist without my initial funding,” he has stated, suggesting that the organization’s success is built on foundations he helped lay. Sam Altman, Director of OpenAI, and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft // Source : Microsoft Microsoft: A New Target For the first time, Musk has directly named Microsoft in his legal battle. The lawsuit accuses the tech giant of leveraging its investments in OpenAI to establish monopolistic control over the AI market. Musk alleges that Microsoft’s financial backing of OpenAI includes exclusivity agreements that stifle competition and create barriers for rival companies. See also