Billionaire Elon Musk shocked many in the tech industry by filing a lawsuit against OpenAI late Thursday. Now, a new report claims that OpenAI sent a memo to its employees late Friday refuting Musk's claims and offering an alternative explanation for why he filed the lawsuit.
Musk said in legal documents that OpenAI violated its agreement as a non-profit organization to develop generative artificial intelligence products such as ChatGPT. Musk said the company is now creating software services just to serve Microsoft, which has invested billions in OpenAI and uses it to help develop its own artificial intelligence products such as Copilot.
In response, CNBC reported that OpenAI sent a memo written by chief strategy officer Jason Kwon to its existing employees. Kwon reportedly wrote in the memo that Musk's lawsuit dealt with a more personal issue:
We believe the claims in this lawsuit may stem from Elon's regret for not being involved with the company today... We are deeply disappointed to see Elon take this kind of action against the company he helped start, especially given his close collaboration with some of you who are still here working to fulfill our mission.
Musk was one of the original founders of OpenAI in 2015 but left the board in 2018. Kwon said in Friday's memo that Musk had previously asked for "full initial control and majority ownership" of the company and wanted to merge OpenAI with his electric car company Tesla.
Since Musk's departure, he has stated in numerous appearances and interviews that he believes generative artificial intelligence could pose a threat to human civilization in the future. Kwon reportedly defended OpenAI in an employee memo, saying the company will continue to develop products that "benefit all of humanity."