A recent New Yorker story is full of nasty allegations about OpenAI CEO Sam Altman—especially his supposed lying and “sociopath” behavior. But a new letter from OpenAI asks the states of California and Delaware to focus on something else entirely in the New Yorker story: alleged wrongdoing by Elon Musk.
Another major OpenAI competitor, Meta, is also mentioned in the letter, which was reported by CNBC. Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief of global affairs claimed to CNBC that Musk and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg are “turning to conduct and approaches that we do think are really highly questionable and sharply worthy of investigation.”
The letter was also reviewed by the Sacramento Bee, which notes that it accuses Musk and Zuckerberg of, in the Bee’s telling, “colluding as Musk sought to dig up incriminating information on Altman.”
With the letter, OpenAI is apparently asking the attorneys general of California and Delaware to investigate Musk—who on top of everything else is a rival AI executive—along with Meta, for “improper and anti-competitive behavior,” more specifically coordinated “attacks.” Said attacks could allegedly inhibit OpenAI’s ability to bring about artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Musk, to refresh your memory, is suing OpenAI for $134 billion at last count. From the beginning, OpenAI has characterized the suit as part of a long smear campaign. In January of this year one statement called Musk’s suit “baseless and a part of his ongoing pattern of harassment.”
The suit is progressing to a trial in the Northern District of California. On April 27, CNBC says jury selection will begin.
CNBC notes that the letter to Delaware and California “referenced a recent report from The New Yorker” about Musk an his “intermediaries.”
One relevant passage from the New Yorker story reads as follows:
“Intermediaries directly connected to, and in at least one case compensated by, Musk have circulated dozens of pages of detailed opposition research about Altman. They reflect extensive surveillance, documenting shell companies associated with him, the personal contact information of close associates, and even interviews about a purported sex worker, conducted at gay bars. One of the Musk intermediaries claimed that Altman’s flights and the parties he attended were being tracked.”
“These attacks” Kwon writes in the letter, “are designed to take control of the future of AGI out of the hands of those who are legally obligated to pursue the mission of ensuring that AGI benefits all of humanity, and put it into the hands of competitors who lack mission-driven principles and spurn any responsibility for safety.”
In a report late last month from Engadget, it emerged that last year, Zuckerberg texted Musk offering to help with his efforts to cut the federal budget with DOGE. Musk responded to with a heart emoji reaction, but then asked Zuckerberg is he was “open to the idea of bidding on the OpenAI IP with me and some others.” Zuckerberg then suggested the conversation be transferred to a phone call.
Gizmodo reached out to xAI and Meta for comment about this letter. We will update this article if we hear back.
