Elon Musk has expanded his lawsuit against OpenAI, now accusing both OpenAI and Microsoft of antitrust violations. The amended complaint, filed on Thursday, also names Microsoft executive Dee Templeton, Reid Hoffman, and former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman as defendants.
Musk alleges that Altman facilitated a “de facto merger” between Microsoft and OpenAI through self-dealing, fostering anti-competitive behavior. Microsoft’s $14 billion investment in OpenAI since 2019, coupled with exclusive rights to its technology and a significant stake, is cited as evidence. The lawsuit claims these actions stifle competition, including Musk’s xAI, by limiting funding opportunities for rivals.
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Additionally, xAI and Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis, who is also a co-plaintiff, joined the suit, emphasizing efforts to curb monopolistic practices in AI. Musk previously co-founded OpenAI in 2015 but departed in 2018, later alleging the company had deviated from its original open-source mission.
This legal battle follows Musk’s dropped lawsuit in June, where OpenAI disclosed past communications suggesting Musk had minimal involvement in founding the organization and sought to monetize it for Tesla.
