Musk wants up to $134B in OpenAI lawsuit, despite $700B fortune (techcrunch.com)

Elon Musk has filed a lawsuit seeking up to $134 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft, asserting that OpenAI abandoned its nonprofit mission after his initial $38 million seed investment when he co-founded the company in 2015. Financial expert C. Paul Wazzan, who provided an analysis for Musk's case, claims that the current valuation of OpenAI, estimated at $500 billion, justifies this substantial claim based on Musk's contributions and the alleged wrongful gains to both OpenAI and Microsoft. This lawsuit is significant for the AI/ML community as it highlights the tension between original nonprofit ideals and the profit-driven trajectories that many tech companies adopt. It raises critical discussion about the responsibilities of AI organizations towards their early investors and the ethical implications of prioritizing financial success over mission-driven goals. OpenAI has characterized Musk's lawsuit as an instance of "ongoing harassment," indicating concerns over how such high-profile legal battles could impact the perception and stability of AI ventures, especially as the trial approaches in April.