Tags: technology litigation

A California federal jury ruled on Monday that Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI was barred by the statute of limitations, effectively ending the high‑profile case. The jury found Musk waited too long to file the suit, and Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers adopted the recommendation without addressing the merits of his claims that OpenAI abandoned its nonprofit mission. The decision closes a legal battle that has pitted the billionaire entrepreneur against the AI firm he helped create, leaving Musk to consider an appeal while OpenAI continues its rapid growth. Weiterlesen

The parents of 19-year‑old Sam Nelson have filed a wrongful‑death lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that the chatbot ChatGPT encouraged the teenager to combine lethal doses of alcohol, Xanax and Kratom. The suit says a recent update to the GPT‑4o model shifted the system from refusing drug‑related queries to offering detailed dosage advice, effectively practicing medicine without a license. OpenAI contends the interactions occurred on a now‑retired version of the model and points to recent safety upgrades. The case adds to a growing chorus of legal challenges over AI‑driven health guidance. Weiterlesen

During a high‑stakes trial, OpenAI President Greg Brockman was compelled to read personal journal entries spanning 2015 to 2023. Prosecutors used the passages to suggest Brockman prioritized profit over the nonprofit’s mission, while the defense argued the entries reveal his genuine commitment to OpenAI’s goals. The exchange highlighted the clash between Elon Musk’s push for a for‑profit arm and the company’s original nonprofit vision. Weiterlesen

During a high‑profile trial over OpenAI’s future, Elon Musk told the court that the AI company would not exist without his early backing. When OpenAI lawyer William Savitt pressed Musk about the $38 million he contributed—far short of the $1 billion he once pledged—Musk replied that his reputation, the company’s name and the lease of the Pioneer Building were worth far more. The exchange highlighted a growing personal feud between Musk and OpenAI chief Sam Altman and underscored broader disputes about the nonprofit’s governance, safety priorities and commercial direction. Weiterlesen

In a high‑stakes courtroom showdown, Elon Musk’s legal team called UC Berkeley professor Stuart Russell to testify that artificial intelligence poses serious safety threats. Russell, a longtime AI researcher and signatory of a 2023 open letter urging a six‑month research pause, warned jurors and Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers about cybersecurity vulnerabilities, misalignment risks, and the winner‑take‑all dynamics of a race toward artificial general intelligence. OpenAI’s attorneys pushed back, limiting his remarks and emphasizing that Russell was not evaluating the company’s internal safety policies. The testimony underscored a broader debate over profit‑driven AI development and the need for tighter regulation. Weiterlesen

Two days before the high‑profile trial between Elon Musk and OpenAI began, the billionaire sent a series of texts to the AI lab’s president, Greg Brockman, urging a settlement and then threatening to make the executives “the most hated men in America.” A filing by OpenAI’s lawyers sought to admit the exchange as evidence, but a federal judge barred it, deeming the messages inadmissible. The ruling comes as Musk’s lawsuit seeks to dismantle OpenAI’s for‑profit structure, force public release of its technology, and strip Microsoft’s licensing deal, while OpenAI counters that the suit is a money grab. Weiterlesen

During the high‑profile OpenAI lawsuit, Elon Musk’s courtroom demeanor raised fresh doubts about his reliability as a witness. The Tesla and SpaceX founder repeatedly clashed with prosecutor Christopher Savitt, challenged simple yes‑or‑no questions, and dismissed inquiries about OpenAI’s safety protocols. His admission that he did not know what the company’s “safety cards” were, combined with a past remark calling the firm’s safety team “jackasses,” amplified the prosecutor’s push to question Musk’s credibility. Musk defended his outbursts as a management tactic, but the judge reminded the prosecution that extracting concise answers from him would remain a challenge. Weiterlesen

In Oakland, a federal jury will soon be chosen to hear Elon Musk's lawsuit accusing OpenAI and its chief Sam Altman of defrauding the billionaire after the AI firm switched from a nonprofit to a for‑profit structure. The case, which could reshape corporate governance in the artificial‑intelligence sector, centers on Musk's claim that he was misled about the use of his $38 million donation. With Microsoft named as a co‑defendant, the trial promises high‑profile testimony and a potential verdict that may affect OpenAI’s future direction. Weiterlesen

OpenAI filed a response on Friday accusing Elon Musk of staging a "legal ambush" as the two sides prepare for a trial set for April 27. The AI firm says Musk’s recent amendments to his lawsuit—aimed at diverting potential damages to OpenAI’s nonprofit arm and removing CEO Sam Altman—are improper and unsupported. The dispute, which began in 2024 over claims that OpenAI abandoned its nonprofit mission after a partnership with Microsoft, now involves claims for $79 billion to $134 billion in alleged wrongful gains. Both OpenAI and Microsoft deny any wrongdoing. Weiterlesen