The legal showdown between Elon Musk and artificial intelligence leader OpenAI is set to go to trial Monday in Oakland, California, with jury selection underway.
Musk, the world's wealthiest individual, is suing the AI startup he helped found, alleging it has abandoned its original non-profit mission. The case pits Musk's xAI lab, developer of the Grok chatbot, against OpenAI's ChatGPT.
Court documents reveal that in 2015, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman persuaded Musk to co-found a non-profit lab intended to benefit humanity. Musk invested millions before leaving the organization.
OpenAI later established a for-profit arm, citing the need for billions of dollars for its advanced technology. Microsoft has heavily invested in OpenAI, and CEO Satya Nadella is expected to testify.
Musk's lawsuit claims he was misled about OpenAI's altruistic mission. OpenAI counters that Musk's departure stemmed from his desire for total control, not the company's non-profit status. The startup has accused Musk of seeking power and money, and of attempting to slow competitors.
The presiding judge will ultimately decide, with input from an advisory jury, whether OpenAI broke a promise to Musk or successfully navigated the AI landscape. Musk seeks to have OpenAI revert to a pure non-profit and calls for the removal of key executives. He has pledged any damages awarded to the OpenAI non-profit.
Musk faces the challenge of proving that OpenAI was founded on false pretenses, a narrative that will be tested in the upcoming trial.