OpenAI has filed a countersuit against Elon Musk, accusing him of attempting to damage the company through “harassing legal claims” and a “sham” $97.4 billion takeover bid.
The AI firm, which Musk helped found in 2015 before departing in 2018, has asked a US court to block any further actions by the billionaire and hold him liable for the disruption already caused.
Musk has criticised OpenAI’s transition from a non-profit to a for-profit structure backed by major investors such as Microsoft.
OpenAI alleges the public nature of Musk’s offer created confusion and harmed its operations and investor relations. It called the move a “fake takeover bid” designed to destabilise the company’s future.
OpenAI recently raised $40 billion in a funding round led by SoftBank and estimates that ChatGPT has 500 million weekly users.
The company projects losses of $5 billion this year, rising to $14 billion annually by 2026. A jury trial is scheduled for 2026.