OpenAI thinks Elon Musk funded its biggest critics—who also hate Musk (arstechnica.com)

OpenAI has subpoenaed several nonprofits as part of its defense against a lawsuit brought by Elon Musk’s X Corp challenging OpenAI’s move from a nonprofit to a for-profit structure. The subpoenas request a broad array of documents—explicitly seeking “all communications” regarding Musk and detailed records about nonprofits’ funders and donations—allegedly to determine whether Musk coordinated or paid groups to amplify criticism of OpenAI. NBC News’ reporting has cataloged the backlash: targeted organizations say the requests are overbroad and intended to intimidate critics rather than uncover any legitimate conspiracy. The dispute matters for the AI/ML community because it pits corporate legal strategy against independent oversight and public debate about governance. Nonprofits like Ekō, which told reporters it’s largely funded by small individual donors and has been vocally critical of Musk (including a Times Square billboard campaign), argue the subpoenas are a chill tactic that could deter watchdogs, researchers, and civil-society groups from scrutinizing powerful AI actors. At stake is a precedent: using litigation to probe critics’ communications and funding could reshape how accountability, transparency, and outside critique function in AI governance, potentially narrowing the space for public-interest scrutiny of companies and influential figures.