OpenAI has urged authorities in California and Delaware to investigate what it describes as “improper and anti-competitive behaviour” by Elon Musk, escalating an already intense legal battle between the two sides ahead of a high-profile trial later this month.
In a formal letter to state attorneys general, OpenAI alleged that Musk and his associates have engaged in actions that could undermine competition and disrupt its operations. The move comes just weeks before a jury trial in Oakland, California, where the dispute is set to be heard.
The conflict traces back to Musk’s 2024 lawsuit against OpenAI and its leadership, including CEO Sam Altman, in which he accused the company of abandoning its original non-profit mission by transitioning toward a for-profit structure. OpenAI, however, has pushed back strongly, arguing that Musk’s legal action seeking damages exceeding $100 billion from its non-profit arm could significantly harm the organisation and derail its broader mission of developing artificial general intelligence (AGI) for public benefit.
OpenAI has further alleged that Musk’s actions including attempts to influence stakeholders and disrupt its restructuring could violate competition norms and warrant regulatory scrutiny. The company has urged authorities to examine whether these actions amount to anti-competitive conduct, particularly given the broader implications for the fast-evolving AI industry.
