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Musk vs. OpenAI: Court Battle Over AI’s Founding Mission Begins

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A closely watched courtroom fight over the direction of artificial intelligence kicked off Tuesday, as Elon Musk appeared in federal court to press his case against OpenAI.

Even before proceedings began, Musk was waging a parallel battle online. On Monday, he posted more than 2 dozen times on X, the social media platform he owns, criticizing OpenAI and its leadership while framing the dispute for his nearly 240 million followers.

The dispute, playing out in Oakland, goes beyond a typical business disagreement. At its core is a fundamental question. Should advanced AI be developed as a public good, or is a profit-driven model inevitable in a field that demands staggering levels of capital?

Musk argues that OpenAI has drifted far from the principles that defined its founding. When the organization launched in 2015, it was framed as a nonprofit research lab committed to advancing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. According to court filings, that vision and the promise that its technology “would belong to the world” were central to convincing Musk to invest millions and lend his name as a co-founder.

Today, OpenAI operates under a hybrid structure in which a nonprofit entity oversees a for-profit arm, an arrangement the company says was necessary to compete in a sector that requires massive spending on data centers, talent, and computing power.

Musk sees that shift differently. In his lawsuit, he claims he was misled about the company’s long-term intentions and that the pivot toward commercialization amounts to a betrayal of its original mission. He is expected to take the stand during the trial, which could unfold over the coming weeks.

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The case also highlights Musk’s increasingly direct competition with OpenAI. Through his company xAI, he has entered the race to build next-generation AI systems, including the chatbot Grok, positioning himself against one of the field’s most influential players.

Across the aisle is Sam Altman, OpenAI’s chief executive and once a collaborator of Musk’s. Their relationship has since deteriorated into a high-profile rivalry that blends personal tension with competing visions for the technology’s future.

OpenAI has pushed back forcefully against Musk’s claims in recent posts on X. In legal filings and public statements, the company argued that Musk’s departure from the organization had less to do with philosophical differences and more to do with disagreements over control.

“The truth is that this case has always been about Elon generating more power and more money for what he wants. Having increasingly realized that his attempt to damage the nonprofit OpenAI Foundation rests on a baseless legal case, Elon is once again trying to change the narrative and save face as the trial approaches. His lawsuit remains nothing more than a harassment campaign that’s driven by ego, jealousy and a desire to slow down a competitor.”

Attorneys for OpenAI have maintained that the company’s leadership, including Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman, stands firmly behind its decisions. They “are confident in their position and look forward to the facts being known,” lawyer William Savitt said after jury selection concluded.

Still, Musk’s legal challenge is sweeping in scope. He is seeking structural changes that would force OpenAI to return to a purely nonprofit model, as well as the removal of key executives. While he initially sought damages of up to $134 billion, Musk has since said he would redirect any financial award to the organization’s nonprofit arm rather than keep it.

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As governments and companies worldwide grapple with how to regulate and fund artificial intelligence, the trial highlights a growing divide between those who see AI as a public utility and those who view it as a competitive industry driven by private investment.

Presiding over the case is Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, who will ultimately decide the remedy, if any, after considering input from an advisory jury. A decision is expected by late May.

On the eve of the trial, Musk took direct aim at Altman on social media, calling him “Scam Altman,” a jab that underscores how a once-collaborative partnership has evolved into one of Silicon Valley’s most consequential feuds.

“Scam Altman and Greg Stockman stole a charity. Greg got tens of billions of stock for himself, and Scam got dozens of OpenAI side deals with a piece of the action for himself.”

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Judge Rogers raised concerns about Musk’s online activity, calling him to the bench to discuss whether to place limits on his public commentary. “How can we get things done without you making things worse outside the courtroom?” she asked.

After Musk said he was responding to statements from OpenAI, the judge urged him, Altman, and Brockman to begin with a “clean slate” and to “keep things to a minimum” on social media. They agreed.

His use of X reflects a broader pattern of shaping public narratives around high-profile disputes, even as jurors in such cases are typically instructed to avoid outside information.

Musk also amplified supportive commentary, including reposting a message that read, “The main difference between Elon Musk and Sam Altman: Elon Musk actually changes the world for the better and saves lives. Sam Altman? He mostly just takes.”

emails

Larry Summers Steps Down From OpenAI Board After Epstein Emails Surface

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OpenAI and the former Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers announced Wednesday that he will step down from the board of the influential artificial intelligence company. The decision comes just days after Congress made thousands of emails linked to Jeffrey Epstein public, revealing Summers as a frequent correspondent.

“In line with my announcement to step away from my public commitments, I have also decided to resign from the board of OpenAI,” Summers said in a statement.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company and look forward to following their progress.”

OpenAI’s board confirmed his departure, noting in its announcement, “We appreciate his many contributions and the perspective he brought to the board.”

The move adds OpenAI to the growing list of institutions now distancing themselves from figures connected to Epstein, the disgraced financier who, according to authorities, died by suicide in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

The recently released trove of more than 20,000 emails referenced a number of high-profile names, including President Trump and filmmaker Woody Allen, thrusting renewed scrutiny on those who interacted with Epstein long after his criminal history was publicly known. Summers told CNBC on Monday that he regrets his actions.

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“I am deeply ashamed of my actions and recognize the pain they have caused. I take full responsibility for my misguided decision to continue communicating with Mr. Epstein.”

Summers entered OpenAI’s orbit in 2023, joining the board at a moment of internal chaos after the surprise ouster of chief executive Sam Altman. Alongside directors Bret Taylor and Adam D’Angelo, he played a key role in reinstating Altman and expanding the board to include five independent members.

His presence was intended to bolster the company’s governance as OpenAI evolved from a mission-driven nonprofit hybrid into a major force in the tech industry.

Since then, OpenAI has attracted tens of billions of dollars in private investment and deepened its relationship with federal agencies. Just last month, the company completed a long-anticipated restructuring that formalized its transition into a conventional for-profit entity, a shift designed to support the massive capital requirements of cutting-edge artificial intelligence research. The company’s valuation now exceeds $500 billion.

Over the past week, Summers has rapidly relinquished a series of leadership and advisory positions. He resigned as chair of the Center for Global Development and stepped down from roles at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Yale’s Budget Lab, and the Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution.

Harvard University, where Summers teaches economics and once served as president, said it would launch a review into his and other officials’ connections to Epstein and “evaluate what actions may be warranted.”

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Despite the controversy, Summers appeared before his class at Harvard on Tuesday, where he directly addressed students about the uproar.

“Some of you will have seen my statement of regret, expressing my shame with respect to what I did with Mr. Epstein. But I think it’s very important that I fulfill my teaching obligations.”

The emails released by Congress show that Epstein and Summers exchanged messages from 2017 to 2019, ranging from personal chatter to political commentary. The correspondence also included disparaging remarks about women’s intelligence and repeated discussions about former President Trump.

In some messages, Summers appeared to seek Epstein’s advice on pursuing a romantic relationship with Keyu Jin, a mentee and former professor at the London School of Economics. Dr. Jin’s father, Jin Liqun, is a prominent Chinese banking executive and former senior Communist Party official.

Summers’s abrupt departure adds yet another twist to a turbulent period for OpenAI, whose rapid ascent has been matched only by the volatility surrounding its leadership.

As the ripples from the Epstein documents continue to spread, institutions around the world are grappling with the implications and Summers, once a towering figure in economic and academic circles, now finds himself at the center of a widening reckoning.

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ChatGPT Advice Leads to Rare Bromide Poisoning in 60-Year-Old Man

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A 60-year-old man’s quest to “improve his health” by reducing dietary chloride took a dangerous turn after he sought guidance from ChatGPT. Three months later, he was in a hospital emergency department with paranoia, hallucinations, and other troubling psychiatric symptoms. Doctors ultimately diagnosed him with bromism, a rare form of poisoning caused by prolonged exposure to bromide compounds.

The man’s case, published Aug. 5 in Annals of Internal Medicine Clinical Cases, began with his research into the health effects of table salt, also known as sodium chloride.

“After reading about the negative effects that sodium chloride, or table salt, has on one’s health, he was surprised that he could only find literature related to reducing sodium from one’s diet. Inspired by his history of studying nutrition in college, he decided to conduct a personal experiment to eliminate chloride from his diet. “

According to the report, the AI allegedly suggested replacing sodium chloride with sodium bromide — a chemical once used in sedatives, anticonvulsants, and sleep aids but largely abandoned decades ago due to toxicity concerns. While sodium bromide may appear chemically similar to table salt, it can be harmful when ingested over time. The man purchased the substance online and began using it in place of salt in his meals.

Bromide-containing drugs were common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, but by the 1970s and 1980s, U.S. regulators removed most from over-the-counter shelves. The decision followed recognition that chronic exposure could cause bromism, a toxic buildup of bromide in the body. Symptoms can include agitation, psychosis, mania, delusions, memory problems, coordination issues, and skin reactions.

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Bromide disrupts neuron function when levels in the body climb too high. In severe cases, it can mimic or mask other conditions — as happened with this patient. His initial lab tests suggested elevated chloride, but further analysis revealed a false reading known as pseudohyperchloremia, caused by bromide interfering with standard blood chemistry measurements.

When he arrived at the emergency department, the man reported that his neighbor was trying to poison him. Tests showed high blood alkalinity and carbon dioxide buildup. Over his hospital stay, paranoia intensified and hallucinations began. He attempted to leave the facility and was placed under an involuntary psychiatric hold, during which he was started on antipsychotic medication.

Once stabilized with fluids and electrolyte monitoring, he revealed his use of sodium bromide as a salt substitute, mentioning other symptoms that had emerged in recent weeks — insomnia, fatigue, clumsiness, severe thirst, acne, and small reddish skin bumps. These clues reinforced the bromism diagnosis.

Over three weeks, doctors tapered his antipsychotic medication, and he was discharged once stable. At a two-week follow-up, his condition remained improved.

While the exact conversation between the man and ChatGPT wasn’t available to the researchers, he said the AI suggested bromide as a substitute for chloride.

The authors tested a similar query on ChatGPT-3.5 and found that it did include bromide in its response, adding a vague “context matters” note but failing to warn against consumption or seek further clarification.

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“While it is a tool with much potential to provide a bridge between scientists and the nonacademic population, AI also carries the risk for promulgating decontextualized information,” the report authors stated.

“It is highly unlikely that a medical expert would have mentioned sodium bromide when faced with a patient looking for a viable substitute for sodium chloride. Thus, as the use of AI tools increases, providers will need to consider this when screening for where their patients are consuming health information.”

When contacted for comment, OpenAI directed reporters to its terms of service, which explicitly state that outputs are not a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied upon as the sole source of factual information. A company spokesperson noted that OpenAI’s safety teams work to reduce such risks and encourage users to consult qualified professionals.

In a broader warning, a separate team of researchers recently tested six AI models, including ChatGPT, on their ability to interpret doctors’ clinical notes. They found that these systems were vulnerable to “adversarial hallucination attacks,” producing convincing but false clinical details. Technical safeguards reduced errors but didn’t eliminate them.

For the patient in this case, a seemingly simple experiment to cut chloride from his diet, aided by AI, nearly ended in disaster. While bromism is rare today, the ease of buying industrial chemicals online and the growing role of AI in everyday decision-making may mean such cases won’t remain isolated.

grok

Elon Musk Touts Grok 4 as ‘Smarter Than Grad Students’ Days After AI’s Nazi Meltdown

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Elon Musk’s announcement of Grok 4’s debut arrived with all the bravado and drama one might expect from the tech mogul, complete with celebratory music, delayed streaming, and lofty claims of world-changing potential. But amid the flash and fanfare, controversy loomed large after the AI assistant’s tumultuous week.

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