Business · The Guardian Technology
Elon Musk and Sam Altman face off in court over OpenAI’s founding mission
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A trial between two of Silicon Valley’s biggest tycoons kicked off on Monday in California, the culmination of a years-long bitter feud.
Key facts
- Altman, Musk and several other founders launched OpenAI in 2015 as a non-profit organization, with Musk providing about $38m
- Musk is seeking a range of remedies that include the removal of Altman and Brockman from OpenAI and more than $134bn in damages, which the tycoon says would be redistributed to OpenAI’s non-profit arm
- The case carries sizable stakes for OpenAI, which is expected to go public later this year at about a $1tn valuation
- A trial between two of Silicon Valley’s biggest tycoons kicked off on Monday in California, the culmination of a years-long bitter feud
Summary
Jury selection began at a federal courthouse in Oakland with Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers presiding. Altman and Greg Brockman, the OpenAI president, were present for jury selection on Monday. The crux of Musk’s suit effectively accuses Altman of swindling him with the promise that OpenAI would operate as a non-profit entity focused on safety and open access to artificial intelligence. Musk accuses Altman, Brockman, and its major partner Microsoft of breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment in the lawsuit.