Key Points:
- Elon Musk drops lawsuit against OpenAI, providing no explanation for the withdrawal.
- Musk criticizes Apple’s integration of ChatGPT, calling it a security risk.
- Musk’s AI company, xAI, secures over $6 billion in funding to advance the Grok chatbot.
Elon Musk has abruptly ended his lawsuit against OpenAI, the company he co-founded in 2015. Court filings from the Superior Court of California reveal that Musk called off the legal action on June 11th, just a day before an informal conference was scheduled to discuss the discovery process.
The Lawsuit Against OpenAI
Musk initially filed the lawsuit in March 2024, alleging breach of contracts, unfair business practices, and failure in fiduciary duty. He claimed his contributions were made “in exchange for and in reliance on promises that those assets were irrevocably dedicated to building AI for public benefit, with only safety as a countervailing concern.”
The lawsuit sought remedies including breach of contract, promissory estoppel, breach of fiduciary duty, unfair business practices, accounting, specific performance, restitution, and damages. However, Musk’s filings to withdraw the case provided no explanation for abandoning the lawsuit. OpenAI had previously labeled Musk’s claims as “incoherent” and pointed out that the documents provided contradicted his allegations regarding the terms of the agreement.
Musk ends OpenAI lawsuit while slamming Apple’s ChatGPT plans – AI News https://t.co/X7cJX906Az via @GoogleNews
— HEM News Agency (@halfeatenmind) June 12, 2024
Musk’s Criticism of Apple’s ChatGPT Integration
The withdrawal of the lawsuit coincides with Musk’s strong opposition to Apple’s plans to integrate ChatGPT into its operating systems. During Apple’s keynote event announcing Apple Intelligence for iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Musk threatened to ban Apple devices from his companies, calling the integration “an unacceptable security violation.”
Despite assurances from Apple and OpenAI that user data would only be shared with explicit consent and that interactions would be secure, Musk questioned Apple’s ability to ensure data security. “Apple has no clue what’s actually going on once they hand your data over to OpenAI. They’re selling you down the river,” Musk stated.
xAI: Musk’s New AI Venture
Since bringing the lawsuit against OpenAI, Musk has also created his own AI company, xAI, and secured over $6 billion in funding to advance the Grok chatbot on his social network, X. This move signals Musk’s shift in focus towards advancing his own AI endeavors while continuing to vocalize his criticism of OpenAI through social media rather than the courts.
@elonmusk “Apple’s integration of ChatGPT poses serious security risks. They can’t guarantee your data safety with OpenAI. #Privacy #Security”
Analysis
The sudden withdrawal of the lawsuit against OpenAI and Musk’s vocal criticism of Apple’s AI integration plans highlight his ongoing concerns about data security and control over AI development. Musk’s actions suggest a strategic pivot to prioritize his own AI projects while leveraging his influence to shape the discourse around AI ethics and safety.
As Musk continues to develop xAI and the Grok chatbot, the AI landscape may see increased competition and innovation. His criticism of Apple’s AI integration could also prompt further scrutiny and discussions about data privacy and security in the broader tech industry.
