Elon Musk does not want the $150 billion compensation he requested from OpenAI to be given to him

The lawsuit filed by Elon Musk against OpenAI has come to the fore with a new development. Elon Musk, who previously objected to the company’s transition to a for-profit structure, made a striking change in his updated application to the court. Accordingly, Musk does not want the compensation of approximately $150 billion he requested to be given directly to him if he wins the case. Instead, he demands that the amount in question be transferred to OpenAI’s non-profit arm.

According to information provided by the Wall Street Journal, Musk’s application includes not only the direction of compensation but also requests regarding company management. Accordingly, Musk also wants OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to be removed from his position on the board of directors in the company’s non-profit structure, if the case is concluded in his favor. This request indicates that the litigation process may have not only financial but also managerial consequences.

Musk’s dispute with OpenAI extends to 2024. As one of the names involved in the founding of OpenAI, Musk argues that the company has moved away from its initial non-profit structure. OpenAI, he claims, has become “closed source and effectively a subsidiary of Microsoft” over time. He claims that this change has led him into a misleading process with his identity as founder and donor.

OpenAI’s structural transformation remains a matter of debate

It is known that OpenAI acted with a focus on open research and social benefit in its early years. However, with increasing costs and the acceleration of the artificial intelligence development race, the company turned to creating a revenue model. The “limited profit” model created in this context and the close cooperation established with Microsoft accelerated the structural transformation of the company. Musk, on the other hand, states that this change contradicts the founding principles.

In addition, the demands made by Musk within the scope of the lawsuit are not considered only as a settlement for the past. It also has implications for what kind of management and organizational structure OpenAI will proceed with in the future. In particular, the demand for Altman’s board position is being watched carefully in terms of the balance of power within the company.

In addition to all this, it is also known that the tension between Musk and Altman does not remain only on legal grounds. The influence of both names in the technology sector and their public statements cause the process to become more visible and controversial from time to time. As the trial date approaches, there is a possibility that the discourse between the parties will become harsher.