Introduction to the Dispute Between Musk and OpenAI
Musk claimed the request was to “ensure OpenAI was not being taken advantage of or corrupted by Microsoft,” but two weeks later, he appeared on national TV, insinuating that OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft was “improper,” OpenAI alleged.
Eventually, Musk announced xAI in July 2023, and that supposedly motivated Musk to deepen his harassment campaign, “this time using the courts and a parallel, carefully coordinated media campaign,” OpenAI said, as well as his own social media platform.
Musk’s Escalating Attacks on OpenAI
Initial Allegations and Lawsuit
As OpenAI’s success mounted, the company alleged that Musk began specifically escalating his social media attacks on X, including broadcasting to his 224 million followers that “OpenAI is a house of cards” after filing his 2024 lawsuit.
Claiming he felt conned, Musk also pressured regulators to probe OpenAI, encouraging attorneys general of California and Delaware to “force” OpenAI, “without legal basis, to auction off its assets for the benefit of Musk and his associates,” OpenAI said.
Intensity of the Attacks
By 2024, Musk had “supercharged” his X attacks, unleashing a “barrage of invective against the enterprise and its leadership, variously describing OpenAI as a ‘digital Frankenstein’s monster,’ ‘a lie,’ ‘evil,’ and ‘a total scam,'” OpenAI alleged.
These attacks allegedly culminated in Musk’s seemingly fake OpenAI takeover attempt in 2025, which OpenAI claimed a Musk ally, Ron Baron, admitted on CNBC was “pitched to him” as not an attempt to actually buy OpenAI’s assets, “but instead to obtain ‘discovery’ and get ‘behind the wall’ at OpenAI.”
Consequences of the Dispute
All of this makes it harder for OpenAI to achieve the mission that Musk is supposedly suing to defend, OpenAI claimed. They told the court that “OpenAI has borne costs, and been harmed, by Musk’s abusive tactics and unrelenting efforts to mislead the public for his own benefit and to OpenAI’s detriment and the detriment of its mission.”
Conclusion
The dispute between Musk and OpenAI has been marked by intense public attacks and legal actions. OpenAI alleges that Musk’s actions have harmed the company and hindered its ability to achieve its mission. The situation remains complex, with both parties presenting different narratives about the events and their motivations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the main issue between Musk and OpenAI?
A: The main issue is Musk’s allegations that OpenAI’s partnership with Microsoft is improper, and his subsequent actions to discredit and potentially take over OpenAI.
Q: How has Musk attacked OpenAI?
A: Musk has used social media, the courts, and a coordinated media campaign to attack OpenAI, describing it in highly negative terms and attempting to pressure regulators to investigate the company.
Q: What are the consequences of the dispute for OpenAI?
A: OpenAI claims that the dispute has harmed the company, making it harder for it to achieve its mission, and has resulted in significant costs and damage to its reputation.
