The feud in Silicon Valley has escalated again. AIbase learned that Elon Musk has formally filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court in Oakland, California, seeking damages of up to $13.4 billion from
As one of the co-founders of OpenAI, Musk emphasized in the complaint that he invested approximately $38 million in the company, accounting for 60% of the seed round. He believes he not only provided financial support but also played a decisive role in building the organizational structure, recruiting core talent, and setting the early direction of the company. AIbase learned that Musk's expert assessment suggests his contributions added between $65.5 billion and $109.4 billion in value to OpenAI, while also generating over $13.3 billion in related benefits for Microsoft, which is deeply connected with OpenAI.
In response to the claim, OpenAI quickly responded, calling the lawsuit "without merit" and "frivolous." Microsoft also denied the allegations. Both parties have jointly requested the court to limit the testimony of Musk's expert witnesses, arguing that their valuation models lack scientific basis. The latest development is that a federal judge in California has ruled that the case will be sent to a jury trial in April this year. This case not only involves a large compensation but also touches on the legal boundaries when AI institutions shift from non-profit to for-profit models, which could have a profound impact on the governance structure of the global artificial intelligence industry.
Key Points:
💰 Substantial Claim:
Musk ⚖️ Legal Core: The case focuses on whether the contributions of original investors were illegally converted into commercial profits after OpenAI deviated from its initial "nonprofit" mission.
📅 Trial Date: The case has been approved to enter the jury trial phase and is expected to officially start the trial in April 2026.
