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OpenAI asks California, Delaware to investigate Musk's 'anti-competitive behavior' ahead of April trial

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Why This Matters

This development highlights ongoing legal and competitive tensions in the AI industry, with OpenAI raising concerns about Musk's actions potentially hindering the responsible development of artificial general intelligence (AGI). It underscores the importance of fair competition and ethical considerations in AI innovation, which directly impact consumers and the future of technology. The outcome could influence regulatory approaches and industry standards for AI development.

Key Takeaways

OpenAI on Monday sent a letter to the California and Delaware attorneys general, urging them to investigate "improper and anti-competitive behavior" by Elon Musk and his associates, as a high-profile trial nears between the two sides.

In the letter, OpenAI strategy chief Jason Kwon alleged that Musk has been working to undermine OpenAI through various "attacks" on the company, including by "coordinating his efforts" with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman co-founded the artificial intelligence lab in 2015 as a nonprofit, alongside several other researchers and executives. Musk left OpenAI in 2018, after trying to convince executives to merge it with Tesla. He later launched a competing company, xAI, and sued OpenAI in 2024, alleging that he was "assiduously manipulated" and "deceived" after the AI company explored converting to a for-profit entity.

Jury selection for the trial is slated to begin on April 27, in the Northern District of California.

Kwon said in the letter that Musk's behavior could inhibit OpenAI's efforts to bring about artificial general intelligence, or AGI, a broad term for an AI system that rivals or exceeds human intelligence.

"These attacks are designed to take control of the future of AGI out of the hands of those who are legally obligated to pursue the mission of ensuring that AGI benefits all of humanity, and put it into the hands of competitors who lack mission-driven principles and spurn any responsibility for safety," Kwon wrote.

OpenAI has previously expressed related concerns about Musk's antics.

In January, the company sent a letter to investors and banking partners warning that it expects Musk to make "deliberately outlandish, attention-grabbing claims" as his lawsuit against the AI lab heads to trial.