tech
Elon Musk said Sam Altman "stole" a non-profit — but the trial showed he had similar aims
“By the end of this week, you and Sam will be the most hated men in America.”
TL;DR
- Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI founders Sam Altman and Greg Brockman was quickly rejected by a jury.
- Musk's case was considered weak partly because he filed it too late.
- Evidence suggested Musk asked OpenAI researchers to work for Tesla's autopilot team for free in 2017.
- Musk also attempted to gain sole control of OpenAI's for-profit affiliate, using tactics like offering free Teslas and threatening to withhold donations.
- Legal experts noted that Musk's actions, such as diverting OpenAI staff to Tesla, could also be seen as inconsistent with the charitable mission.
- The statute of limitations was a significant factor, as decisions and resources were spent based on the understanding that actions were permissible.