Tech Billionaire Elon Musk Wants His Share
Elon Musk is making big claims against OpenAI and Microsoft. He says they owe him up to $134 billion. This is because of his early support when OpenAI was just starting out. Musk says he gave them money, connections, and even taught them how to grow a business.
The Defendants' Response
OpenAI and Microsoft are not happy about this. They say Musk's demands are not serious. They call it part of his ongoing campaign against them. Microsoft has not said much about the situation yet.
The Background
Musk left OpenAI in 2018. Now, he runs his own AI company, xAI, with a chatbot called Grok. He says OpenAI changed its original mission. This happened when they became a for-profit company.
The Legal Battle
A judge has decided that a jury will hear the case. It is set to start in April. Musk says he gave about $38 million to OpenAI. He says this was 60% of their early funding. He also helped them find people to work there and made important connections.
Musk's team says his contributions were worth much more than what he put in. They say OpenAI and Microsoft made huge gains because of him. They want the jury to make the companies pay him back.
The Counterattack
OpenAI and Microsoft are fighting back. They say Musk's claims are not based on real evidence. They want the judge to limit what Musk's expert can tell the jury. They call his analysis made up and unrealistic.
The Bigger Picture
This is a big deal in the tech world. It shows how important early support can be for startups. It also shows how things can get complicated when people disagree about money and mission.