In a recent legal dispute, Elon Musk's lawyer stated that if OpenAI decides to abandon its transition to a for-profit company, they will withdraw their $97.4 billion acquisition offer for OpenAI's non-profit division. This news has attracted widespread attention in the tech industry.
Musk has long opposed OpenAI's shift from a non-profit organization to a for-profit entity. He believes that OpenAI should adhere to its original non-profit mission to ensure that the development and application of its technology benefits all of humanity. In contrast, OpenAI's management argues that the transition to a for-profit model is necessary to secure more capital support and to compete effectively in the intense AI landscape. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently reiterated that the non-profit entity controlling OpenAI is "not for sale," and he criticized Musk's acquisition offer as "absurd."
According to documents submitted by Musk's lawyer to the court, if OpenAI's board is willing to continue fulfilling its non-profit mission and clearly states that its assets are no longer for sale, Musk will withdraw his acquisition offer. This proposal reflects his concerns about OpenAI's future development, believing that continuing the transition would deviate from its original goals.
Insiders revealed that the OpenAI board plans to reject Musk's proposal, believing that the non-profit entity itself is not for sale and that its mission is "to ensure that artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity." This stance indicates that OpenAI remains committed to its original intent and is unwilling to abandon its core principles due to funding issues.
Furthermore, OpenAI mentioned in court documents that Musk's acquisition attempt contradicts his claim in court that "OpenAI's assets cannot be used for private profit," viewing this move as an inappropriate attempt to "suppress competitors." Musk co-founded OpenAI with Altman in 2015, originally operating as a non-profit organization, but due to differences in future direction, Musk left in 2018, after which OpenAI began establishing for-profit business units to attract investment.
This incident not only highlights the disagreements between Musk and OpenAI but also sparks a profound discussion about how tech companies should balance profit with social responsibility.
