OpenAI has initiated a countersuit against Elon Musk, asserting that his persistent actions are “bad-faith tactics” aimed at undermining the organization and gaining control of its AI innovations for personal gain. This announcement was made via a post on X on Wednesday.
In its legal filing, OpenAI’s attorneys contend that Musk’s ongoing negative actions against the company, highlighted by a recent fictitious takeover attempt intended to disrupt its future, must come to an end. They request that Musk be prohibited from any additional unlawful actions and held accountable for the damage already inflicted.
Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, first filed a lawsuit against the organization last spring, expressing a desire to compel the company to refocus on its original mission of developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) for the benefit of humanity rather than pursuing profit. This legal action has drawn critical appraisal, with Technology News’s editor-in-chief describing it as “hilariously bad.”
After dropping that lawsuit in June, Musk filed again in August. The ongoing legal battle was further complicated in December when OpenAI published a blog post asserting that Musk had initially intended for OpenAI to operate as a for-profit entity. The case is set to go to trial in the spring of 2026.
Earlier this year, Musk made an offer of $97.4 billion to acquire OpenAI, proclaiming that the organization should revert to its open-source, safety-oriented roots. However, this proposal was unanimously rejected by OpenAI’s board of directors, who characterized it as a “sham bid.”
Disclosure: Vox Media, the parent company of Technology News, has partnerships with OpenAI.
