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Elon Musk has revived a lawsuit against Sam Altman and OpenAI in federal court, alleging that he was deceived into co-founding the artificial intelligence firm. The lawsuit, filed in Northern California, claims Musk was misled by Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, who allegedly portrayed the organization as a non-profit committed to safety and openness.
According to the filing, Musk was “courted and deceived” into investing millions in OpenAI under the pretense that it was a non-profit dedicated to a safer and more transparent approach to AI. The lawsuit accuses Altman and his associates of betraying Musk by transforming OpenAI into a for-profit entity and engaging in self-dealing, with Microsoft playing a significant role in this shift.
Musk’s latest lawsuit echoes claims made in a similar suit filed earlier this year in California, which he ultimately withdrew. The current lawsuit characterizes the alleged deception as “Shakespearean in its perfidy and deceit.”
The lawsuit also implicates Microsoft, alleging that the tech giant used its investments to gain leverage over OpenAI. Microsoft, which has invested approximately $13 billion in OpenAI, is accused of making OpenAI dependent on its cloud computing services and influencing its strategic decisions.
The lawsuit portrays OpenAI’s transformation and its relationship with Microsoft as a breach of the original non-profit promises made to Musk. Both OpenAI and Microsoft have been contacted for comment.