FUTURE OF OPEN AI TRIAL BEGUN – Musk is seeking $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft
A high-stakes trial over the future of OpenAI is underway, with lawyers disputing whether Elon Musk was committed to ensuring that artificial intelligence be used to benefit society or instead viewed the Silicon Valley company as a vehicle to amass power for himself.
Musk is suing OpenAI, its Chief Executive Sam Altman and its President Greg Brockman, saying they betrayed him and the public by abandoning the ChatGPT maker’s mission to be a benevolent steward of AI for humanity, and transforming the nonprofit into a profit-seeking juggernaut.
Musk’s lawyer Steven Molo told jurors in his opening statement that OpenAI defendants wanted riches for themselves, as it began drawing investors including Microsoft. “The defendants in the case stole a charity, and we’re asking you to hold them accountable,” Molo said during his opening statement adding “It wasn’t a vehicle for people to get rich.”
Musk is seeking $150 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft with proceeds going to OpenAI’s charitable arm. He also wants OpenAI to revert to a nonprofit, with Altman and Brockman removed as officers and Altman removed from its board.
Musk’s claims include breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment.
