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OpenAI claims that Elon Musk pushed the for-profit model from the organization's early days. Musk's proposal to integrate OpenAI and Tesla was rejected, leading to the co-chairman's resignation.
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OpenAI responded to Elon Musk's lawsuit with a blog post claiming that the Tesla CEO had advocated for the organization to become a for-profit organization since its inception.
This post details emails and events from 2015 that demonstrate Musk's role in shaping OpenAI's direction.
OpenAI said Musk questioned its original nonprofit status and created a public benefit corporation in 2017 as a framework for its future, pushing for a profit-driven model.
The group said Musk demanded a majority stake, unilateral control and the CEO position as conditions for the transition.
OpenAI rejected these conditions to prevent AGI development from being controlled by a single individual.
The company revealed that Musk proposed a merger between OpenAI and Tesla in 2018, warning that the organization would “certainly fail” if it did not join his electric car company.
Musk resigned as co-chairman after the merger proposal was rejected.
The controversy arose after Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, filed a lawsuit challenging the organization's move to a profit-limited model in 2019. OpenAI claims this change was necessary to secure funding for AGI development.
“We cannot sue AGI,” OpenAI said in a post as the legal battle heats up amid competition from Musk's xAI venture. “Our mission is to ensure that AGI benefits all humanity,” the organization added.
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