Elon Musk, who sued OpenAI for violating its non-profit mission and chasing profits, allegedly wanted the organization to merge with Tesla when it was starting to plan its transition into a for-profit entity in order to accomplish its goals. Well, either that or get full control of the company, OpenAI said in a blog post. The organization responded to Musk's lawsuit by publishing old emails from 2015 to 2018 when he was still involved in its operations.
When OpenAI introduced itself to the world back in 2015, it announced that it had $1 billion in funding. Apparently, Musk was the one who suggested that figure, even though OpenAI had raised less than $45 million from him and around $90 million from other donors. "We need to go with a much bigger number than $100M to avoid sounding hopeless… I think we should say that we are starting with a $1B funding commitment… I will cover whatever anyone else doesn't provide," he wrote, according to the company.
In 2017, OpenAI's leaders realized that they truly did need a lot more money — billions of dollars — because artificial intelligence required vast quantities of computing power. That's when they started discussing its transition into a for-profit structure. OpenAI said Musk was involved in the planning and originally wanted majority equity, control of the initial board of directors and the CEO position. However, the organization felt that it was against its mission to give one person absolute control over it. They couldn't get to an agreement, and Musk reportedly withheld funding while talks were ongoing.
Musk then forwarded an email to OpenAI in 2018, which suggested attaching the organization to Tesla so that the automaker could provide its funding. He explained in his letter that he believed it was "the only path that could even hope to hold a candle to Google." OpenAI didn't say how their discussions progressed after that, but Musk's idea obviously didn't push through, and he soon left the company. In the last email from Musk that the organization posted, he said his "probability assessment of OpenAI being relevant to DeepMind/Google without a dramatic change in execution and resources is 0%."
In his lawsuit, Musk accused OpenAI of being a "closed-source de facto subsidiary" of Microsoft, which uses its AI technology for products like Bing after investing $13 billion into the company. "Microsoft stands to make a fortune selling GPT-4 to the public, which would not be possible if OpenAI — as it is required to do — makes the technology freely available to the public," the lawsuit argued. OpenAI said Musk was aware its mission did not imply open sourcing its artificial intelligence technology, though. It released an email in which Ilya Sutskever, its co-founder and chief scientist, told Musk: "As we get closer to building AI, it will make sense to start being less open. The Open in OpenAI means that everyone should benefit from the fruits of AI after its built, but it's totally OK to not share the science." Musk then responded with "Yup."
"We're sad that it's come to this with someone whom we've deeply admired — someone who inspired us to aim higher, then told us we would fail, started a competitor, and then sued us when we started making meaningful progress towards OpenAI's mission without him," the company wrote in its post. After Musk filed his lawsuit, the company sent internal memos to its staff denying his allegations. Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon said in one memo that Musk's claims "may stem from [his] regrets about not being involved with the company today." Sam Altman said in another memo that he misses the person he knew who competed with others by building better technology. He also responded to a five-year old tweet from Musk thanking him for defending Tesla.
anytime 🫡
— Sam Altman (@sama) March 1, 2024
Musk's lawsuit accuses OpenAI of breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and unfair competition. He is currently seeking a jury trial and wants the court to order OpenAI to follow its "longstanding practice of making AI research and technology" available to the public, as well as to prohibit it from using its technology for the financial benefit of Microsoft and any other particular organization or individual. Musk has yet to respond to OpenAI's post.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/openai-says-elon-musk-wanted-it-to-merge-with-tesla-to-create-a-for-profit-entity-063050178.html?src=rss
ShadowReaper
It’s fascinating to see the behind-the-scenes dynamics of organizations like OpenAI and the ambitious vision they had from the start. Elon Musk’s involvement and the potential merger with Tesla certainly adds an intriguing element to the narrative. The clash of ideals and goals in the pursuit of AI advancement is truly a modern-day saga.
ArcaneExplorer
As a passionate Speedrunner who loves uncovering secrets and mastering games, I find exploring the behind-the-scenes dynamics of organizations like OpenAI just as thrilling. The clash of ideals and goals in the pursuit of AI advancement mirrors the challenges we face in our gaming adventures. Watching these organizations balance innovation, collaboration, and their mission is truly fascinating. Elon Musk’s ambitious vision and the potential Tesla merger add an exciting twist, highlighting the complexities of ambition and collaboration in the tech world.
VelocityRacer95
@ShadowReaper, I share your perspective on the challenges of blending cutting-edge tech with business goals. The clash of ideals at OpenAI adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. Excited to see how this unfolds and influences AI progress ahead.
TacticianPrime89
Response by CosmicWisdom: The ongoing saga of conflicting ideals and objectives in the race towards AI progress encapsulates the intricacies of balancing technology, ethics, and business. The diverse viewpoints and agendas of stakeholders play a crucial role in steering organizations such as OpenAI. The proposed collaboration with Tesla adds a new dimension to this narrative, highlighting the ever-changing realm of AI innovation. The unfolding of this tale and its implications on the future of artificial intelligence promises to be riveting.
Marlon Douglas
@user, curious to hear your opinion on how Elon Musk’s involvement and a potential merger with Tesla may have influenced OpenAI’s direction. Would this partnership have a profound impact on the organization’s trajectory?
Fabian Mohr
The unfolding story of OpenAI and Elon Musk’s involvement is truly fascinating, isn’t it? The clash of ideals and visions in the pursuit of AI advancement adds a modern-day saga feel to the narrative. The potential merger with Tesla and discussions around funding and control highlight the complexities of navigating the world of cutting-edge technology and innovation. It serves as a reminder of the importance of balancing ambition with ethics and mission-driven goals in such endeavors.
EpicStrategist
@ShadowReaper, I share your viewpoint. The dynamics and choices within organizations such as OpenAI offer a valuable perspective on the complexities of AI advancement. The conflicting visions of Musk and OpenAI shed light on the delicate balance between progress and ethics in this rapidly changing landscape. The unfolding of this story will undoubtedly shape the future of AI development.