OpenAI has filed a motion asking the court to dismiss Elon Musk's lawsuit, arguing that it is a ploy to weaken the company to help Musk's xAI compete in the field of artificial intelligence.
On October 8, OpenAI officially filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Elon Musk earlier this year. The artificial intelligence company accused Musk of using the legal system to "harass" the company, while also aiming to increase the advantage of xAI - a rival AI company founded by Musk.
Musk first filed the lawsuit in February, accusing OpenAI of straying from its original goal as a nonprofit. The lawsuit raised questions in the AI community about the legality of OpenAI’s move to a “for-profit” model.
What I said today to the NYT about the Musk-OpenAI lawsuit: pic.twitter.com/UJXugkHAVY
— Gary Marcus (@GaryMarcus) March 2, 2024
However, after withdrawing the first lawsuit in June, Musk filed a new lawsuit in August. In this lawsuit, Musk directly accused OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, saying that Altman and the company “intentionally deceived” Musk, exploiting his concerns about the potential risks of AI to manipulate him into co-founding OpenAI.
Musk’s lawsuit also argues that OpenAI’s move to a for-profit operation is inconsistent with the organization’s original founding principles. Musk, once a strong supporter of OpenAI’s original mission, now argues that the company’s change of direction is inconsistent with its ethical commitments to AI development.
OpenAI's Motion to Dismiss the Lawsuit
In response, OpenAI’s legal team filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on October 9, arguing that Musk’s allegations have no legal basis. OpenAI asserted that the lawsuit is part of Musk’s campaign of “harassment” to gain a competitive advantage for xAI. The company also argued that Musk is exploiting the legal system to gain an advantage in the field of artificial intelligence.
“Since launching his rival artificial intelligence company, xAI, Musk has attempted to exploit the judicial system to his advantage,” OpenAI’s motion to dismiss reads. “This effort should fail; Musk’s lawsuit lacks legal merit and should be dismissed.” OpenAI also points out that Musk was once a key advocate for the company’s mission, but shifted his focus to competition when he lost control of the company.
The company is now asking for the lawsuit to be dismissed entirely, arguing that Musk’s claims have no legal merit. OpenAI asserts that Musk’s actions are just part of a larger effort to solidify his position in the AI industry, using the legal system as a strategic tool rather than addressing genuine legal concerns.
The trial is scheduled for November 12 in federal court in Oakland, California. The case has sparked a major debate about the ethics of the AI industry’s profit models and the legal responsibilities of major players in the industry, as the rivalry between Musk’s xAI and OpenAI continues to intensify.