OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently revealed that he reached out to Elon Musk via text following news of Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI and its cofounders. Altman shared during an interview that he sent Musk a message containing 'something trivial' in response to the legal action. The exchange was described as cordial, with Altman mentioning that they exchanged emojis as well.
Earlier this year, Musk filed a lawsuit against Altman and OpenAI, accusing the company of breaching its founding agreement and potentially deviating from its nonprofit mission by partnering with Microsoft. Musk demanded that OpenAI make its research open-source, restrict Microsoft's access to GPT-4, and prevent Altman and Microsoft from benefiting from the organization.
Musk, who helped establish OpenAI with Altman in 2015 but later resigned from the board due to conflicts of interest with Tesla's AI projects, has been critical of Altman and the company since his departure. Despite Musk's public criticisms, Altman has maintained a more diplomatic stance, expressing understanding of Musk's concerns about AI safety while urging him to acknowledge OpenAI's efforts in addressing these issues.
OpenAI has responded to Musk's lawsuit by labeling it as 'frivolous' and 'incoherent,' alleging that Musk's actions stem from jealousy over the company's success post his departure. The company has also released emails contradicting Musk's public statements about OpenAI. The ongoing legal dispute highlights the tensions between Musk and Altman, who have had a complex relationship since their collaboration on OpenAI.
Altman's comments reflect a sense of nostalgia for the past, expressing a sentiment of missing the previous dynamic with Musk, whom he once viewed as a hero. The evolving dynamics between the two tech figures underscore the challenges and complexities inherent in the intersection of AI development, corporate partnerships, and personal relationships within the tech industry.
