Renowned AI researcher Geoffrey Hinton, often called the “godfather of AI,” has voiced support for Elon Musk’s legal fight against OpenAI’s transition from a nonprofit to a for-profit organization. Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI is now backed by the godfather of AI Geoffrey Hinton, who criticized the company’s shift to a for-profit model. Speaking through Encode, an advocacy group promoting human-centered AI, Hinton emphasized the importance of OpenAI adhering to its original mission.
“OpenAI was established as a safety-focused nonprofit and made specific commitments in its charter,” Hinton stated. He highlighted the advantages OpenAI received due to its nonprofit status, including tax benefits. Hinton argued that abandoning these principles for profit sends a harmful message to the broader AI community.
Elon Musk, a co-founder of OpenAI, opposes the company’s shift towards a for-profit model. Musk left OpenAI’s board in 2018 but has recently taken legal steps to halt its restructuring. His lawyers filed an injunction to stop OpenAI’s profit-oriented transition, alleging that the company’s leadership misled him during its foundation by exploiting his concerns about AI safety risks.
OpenAI, however, dismissed Musk’s claims, labeling them as “without merit.” The organization has been moving forward with its plans, recently securing $6.6 billion in funding, valuing the company at $157 billion.
Musk initially sued OpenAI in February 2024, accusing it of violating its nonprofit mission by partnering with Microsoft. While he withdrew the suit in June, he refiled it in August. The ongoing legal battle has brought renewed attention to the role and accountability of AI organizations in balancing innovation with ethical considerations.
Encode Files Brief Supporting Musk’s Case
Encode, a youth-led AI advocacy group, has backed Musk’s efforts by filing an amicus brief. Adam Billen, Encode’s Vice President for Public Policy, criticized OpenAI’s decision to prioritize profits over public accountability. He stated that OpenAI’s move underscores the necessity of public involvement in shaping AI’s future.
Hinton, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2024 for his work in neural networks, has been critical of OpenAI’s leadership, particularly CEO Sam Altman. At an October press conference, Hinton accused Altman of prioritizing profits over safety, describing the situation as “unfortunate.”
Ethics vs. Profit
Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI is now backed by the godfather of AI, emphasizing the risks of prioritizing profits over safety. OpenAI was founded with the noble goal of creating artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity, prioritizing safety and transparency. Its nonprofit status symbolized this commitment. By transitioning to a for-profit model, critics argue that OpenAI risks abandoning its original mission. Hinton’s comments highlight this concern, emphasizing how the organization gained significant tax benefits and public trust as a nonprofit. Allowing it to shift focus toward profit, he warns, could set a dangerous precedent for other AI developers.
Proponents of profit-driven AI development argue that financial sustainability is essential for large-scale innovation. Securing billions in funding, as OpenAI recently did, demonstrates the market’s confidence in its ability to deliver groundbreaking solutions. However, this comes at a cost. When profits take precedence, the risk of overlooking safety and ethical concerns increases. Hinton’s critique of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman underscores this tension, accusing him of prioritizing financial goals over AI safety.
Many in the AI community are watching closely, given that the godfather of AI now backs Elon Musk’s lawsuit against OpenAI. Musk’s allegations that OpenAI’s leaders misled him and misused its nonprofit charter bring attention to the importance of accountability in organizations handling powerful technologies. Encode’s support for Musk reflects growing calls for public oversight and ethical standards in the AI industry.
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