OpenAI asks California, Delaware to investigate Musk's 'anti-competitive behavior' ahead of trial

OpenAI has formally requested the attorneys general of California and Delaware to investigate what it describes as "improper and anti-competitive behavior" by Elon Musk and his associates. This appeal comes as a significant trial approaches between OpenAI and Musk. In a letter penned by OpenAI’s strategy chief, Jason Kwon, the organization accuses Musk of orchestrating various attacks aimed at undermining the company. Kwon suggests that Musk has been coordinating efforts with Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, as part of this strategy. Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015 alongside CEO Sam Altman and other researchers, departed from the organization in 2018 after proposing a merger with Tesla. Following his exit, Musk established a rival entity named xAI and initiated legal action against OpenAI in 2024, claiming he was "assiduously manipulated" and "deceived" after OpenAI considered transitioning to a for-profit model. The trial is set to begin with jury selection on April 27 in California's Northern District. In his letter, Kwon warned that Musk's actions could hinder OpenAI's aspirations to develop artificial general intelligence (AGI), a term used to describe AI systems that may match or surpass human intelligence. "These attacks are aimed at seizing control of AGI's future from those committed to ensuring its benefits for all humanity, transferring it to competitors who prioritize profit over safety," Kwon wrote. OpenAI has voiced similar worries about Musk's behavior in the past, including a January letter to investors indicating that Musk might make "deliberately outlandish, attention-grabbing claims" during the legal proceedings, which are likely to be detached from reality and reminiscent of previous harassment tactics he employed.