Ex-OpenAI employees side with Elon Musk in legal battle, here's why

OpenAI

Twelve former OpenAI employees have filed an amicus brief in support of Elon Musk in his ongoing lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman. The case, which has captured global attention, centers on allegations that OpenAI has strayed from its nonprofit roots and original mission to prioritie ethical AI development.

In the filing with the court, the employees said, “OpenAI’s mission, the OpenAI Charter, and the central controlling role of the Nonprofit were critical to OpenAI’s ability to attract and retain talent. They were routinely used to persuade candidates to join the company and to convince employees who were considering leaving to stay.”

Furthermore, the employees argue that if the OpenAI Nonprofit agreed to a change in the OpenAI corporate structure which took away its controlling role, that would fundamentally violate its mission.

The employees argue that the organization's transition to a for-profit public benefit corporation (PBC) undermines its commitment to ensuring artificial intelligence benefits humanity. They claim this shift breaches the trust of employees, donors, and stakeholders who supported OpenAI based on its original nonprofit mission.

Among the signatories is Todor Markov, a former researcher at OpenAI, who has publicly criticised Altman for alleged "low integrity" and misleading practices. Markov's declaration highlights concerns about OpenAI's restructuring and its potential impact on AI safety and governance.

Elon Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, has accused the organization of prioritizing financial gains over its ethical commitments. OpenAI, valued at $300 billion, has countered these claims, asserting that its nonprofit arm remains integral to its operations and mission.

“We worked at OpenAI; we know the promises it was founded on and we’re worried that in the conversion those promises will be broken. The nonprofit needs to retain control of the for-profit. This has nothing to do with Elon Musk and everything to do with the public interest,” said Markov in a series of posts on X.