OpenAI has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk. The company claims that Musk is trying to block its progress to serve his own goals. OpenAI says Musk is using harmful tactics to take over AI development.
Musk once helped start OpenAI but left the group in 2018. Since then, he has grown more critical of the company. The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, adds a new chapter to their ongoing dispute.
Lawsuit Claims Musk Wants Full Control
OpenAI says Elon Musk wants full control over AI. According to the group, he does not support AI for the good of all but wants to lead the field himself. The company claims he is spreading false stories and trying to stop their work.
“We filed this lawsuit to stop his ongoing attempts to take control,” OpenAI said in a public statement.
A federal judge in Oakland, California, has set the case for trial in March 2026. The judge, Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers, earlier denied Musk’s request to stop OpenAI from becoming a for-profit group. She also said she expects Musk to appear in court and testify.
Musk Criticizes OpenAI’s Shift Toward Profit
Musk argues that OpenAI broke its founding promise. He says the group now chases money instead of trying to help all people. When the group moved toward making a profit, Musk objected and even sued CEO Sam Altman.
Musk’s legal team has not yet commented on the new case. However, people close to Musk say he feels betrayed by the group he helped build.
In his past claims, Musk said OpenAI’s actions are unfair to the public. He believes the company should be open and free for all. His critics say his own business moves show a different story.
A Fight Over Power and Money
Experts say this fight is not just about ethics. Ari Lightman, a media expert, said the issue is about control and cash.
“This fight is about who leads the AI world and who profits from it,” Lightman said. He added that real concerns like safe AI use have taken a backseat.
OpenAI says Musk is trying to hurt the group by spreading false facts. They say he never supported the group’s mission and always wanted it for himself.
Musk now runs a rival AI group called xAI. It is still smaller than OpenAI but is growing fast. Last month, Musk joined xAI with X, the site once known as Twitter.
He says the new group, XAI Holdings, is worth over $100 billion. That makes it one of the most valuable tech companies today.
A Big Offer and a Bold Response
Earlier this year, Musk offered to buy OpenAI for $97.4 billion. Altman refused. He even joked about it online. He posted, “No thank you, but we will buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
The post went viral. It showed the deep divide between the two tech leaders.
This offer and response added fuel to the already heated feud. It also raised new questions about what each man really wants.
OpenAI’s Road Ahead
OpenAI has faced many challenges. But the group says it is focused on building safe AI. It wants to create tools that help people, not just make money.
The group moved from a non-profit to a for-profit in recent years. This shift allowed it to grow faster and compete with tech giants like Google and Microsoft.
Still, some critics say this move betrayed its original goal. OpenAI says the change was needed to keep up with fast-moving AI work.
Altman remains the CEO. He says the group will not slow down. “We believe in our mission, and we’re going to keep moving forward,” he said in a recent post.
The Legal Battle Continues
The court fight could go on for years. With a trial set for 2026, both sides will have time to prepare. Experts say the outcome could shape the future of AI.
Musk and Altman were once allies. Now, they are rivals in one of tech’s biggest fights. The legal case may show who really controls the future of AI.