Billionaire Elon Musk is taking legal action against OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman, alleging that the company has strayed from its original mission of benefiting humanity by partnering with Microsoft for profit. Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, claims that when he initially funded the creation of the AI company, there was an agreement in place to keep it as a non-profit organization that would develop technology for the public good. However, Musk alleges that OpenAI has now become a "closed-source de facto subsidiary" of Microsoft, focusing on maximizing profits rather than serving the greater good.

The lawsuit, filed at San Francisco Superior Court, accuses OpenAI of breaching its founding agreement by keeping its code for its latest generative AI products a secret and partnering with Microsoft for $13 billion. Musk is seeking a jury trial and requesting that Altman, Brockman, and other top executives pay back the profits they have received from the business. He also wants an injunction to prevent anyone, including Microsoft, from benefiting from OpenAI's technology.

OpenAI, which was initially established as a safeguard against the potential dangers of artificial general intelligence (AGI), has faced criticism from Musk for deviating from its original mission. The company's decision to form a for-profit entity within its structure, OpenAI LP, has led to a significant increase in its valuation, with Altman being credited for the company's success.

Musk, who has since left OpenAI and founded his own AI company, xAI, has been vocal about the risks associated with AGI and has accused the current leaders of OpenAI of prioritizing profit over the well-being of humanity. The lawsuit alleges that OpenAI's technology, including GPT-4, is now closed-source to serve the commercial interests of Microsoft, in violation of the company's charter.

OpenAI has not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.